Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway for the opportunity to address the House on this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly.I assure the Senator that the Government remains fully committed to improving patient-centred care and services across the country. That commitment is seen in the unprecedented level of funding that is being targeted across the health service in budget 2022. This investment will ensure that hospitals can continue to develop the services they provide, including diabetic services in the mid-west.

The University Limerick Hospitals Group, ULHG, has advised the Department of Health that it recognises the need for additional resources within adult diabetic services and is focused on and committed to improving those services. Developing services around insulin pump therapy and structured education requires that further specialist posts be filled, including nurse and dietician posts. While there is a specialist dietician working with paediatric diabetes patients, there is no specialist dietician in post for adults with type 1 diabetes, a matter the Senator referenced. Patients are seen by a ward dietician as inpatients, but there is no specialist dietetic care for outpatient adult appointments.

ULHG sought to address these issues. In December 2020, it received confirmation of funding from the national clinical programme for diabetes to recruit three additional dietetic posts. The recruitment process for two senior dieticians and one staff grade dietician is at an advanced stage. It is prudent for me to point out how long it takes the HSE to recruit staff. It could take up to 50 weeks to recruit for a post, but the ongoing work in this regard is welcome.

A second consultant endocrinologist took up a post on 1 October 2020. Two further consultant endocrinology posts have been approved and are being progressed. There are also three diabetic staff nurse positions within the diabetes unit at University Hospital Limerick, of which two are filled. A recruitment process is ongoing to fill the final post.

In addition to the recruitment for these posts, the adult diabetic service is supported by a dedicated team of clinical nurse specialists and staff nurses. Four diabetic nurse specialist posts have been approved for University Hospital Limerick, of which two will commence over the coming months. A recruitment campaign is ongoing for the remaining two posts.

ULHG has confirmed that the insulin pump programme will be extended when all clinical nurse specialists are in place and fully trained to provide the service. There are two dietetic staff nurse positions within the diabetes unit at University Hospital Limerick, both of which have been filled. The DAFNE course for adults with type 1 diabetes will be dependent on the appointment of these specialist dieticians and the recruitment of the additional clinical nurse specialist.

ULHG advises that the adult service is currently unable to commence patients on insulin pumps due to service demands. The service in Limerick does, however, accept patients established on pumps from elsewhere. These patients are managed under the care of a consultant endocrinologist. The largest group of these patients has been transferred from the paediatric diabetes service at University Hospital Limerick. All insulin pump patients are seen in University Hospital Limerick.

I am assured that ULHG remains committed to the progressive development of diabetic services and that this is a core focus of the group, given its importance to the patients of the mid-west. While recognising that there is still plenty to be done, the recent investment will help ensure that ULHG achieves this goal. I welcome how the HSE has outlined the recruitment process and the funding being put behind the service. I hope that we will see progress in the coming months.