Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the diabetes action brief policy document published by an organisation (details supplied); the measures he will take to improve services on a regional basis to those diagnosed with diabetes particularly those in County Cork who have to travel to Dublin for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11415/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is aware of the Diabetes Action proposal document.

The report of the Health Service Executive Diabetes Expert Advisory Group (2008) identified the inadequacy of service provision in the area of paediatric and adolescent treatment and proposed a comprehensive regional plan to improve the service. The internationally accepted method of improving diabetes control is that the child/adolescent be cared for by a multidisciplinary team of specialists in both diabetes and paediatrics.

The Expert Advisory Group (EAG) made paediatric/adolescent diabetes care a priority and it drew up Standards of Care, reviewed and endorsed the clinical practice guidelines of the international society for paediatric and adolescent diabetes and proposed that diabetes care be reorganised and delivered on a regional basis. The EAG made a number of recommendations in relation to the treatment of paediatric/adolescent patients with diabetes.

Diabetes services for paediatric and adolescent patients in the Cork area are provided at Cork University Hospital (CUH) . This service is led by a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist. The post of Consultant Paediatrician (special interest in Diabetes and Endocrinology) at CUH is currently filled in a temporary capacity and measures to fill this post on a permanent capacity are well advanced. Restructuring has also made it possible to create another consultant post and interviews have taken place in this regard. The appointment of a second consultant will further enhance the service being provided at CUH and ensure that the service provided at CUH meets the standards of care set out by the EAG.