Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Health his views on the provision of service to teenagers suffering form type 1 diabetes; and his further views on whether a reorganisation of diabetes services in order that intensive therapies can be assessed locally. [21513/11]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposals of the Diabetes Action Group for improving child and adolescent diabetes services throughout the country; if there are plans to recognise services in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21822/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 321 together.

The HSE's National Clinical Programme for Diabetes - which includes the care of children and adolescents with diabetes, has estimated that there are between 3,000 and 4,000 children and young adults with diabetes in this country. It was established by the HSE in 2010 with the express aim of defining the way diabetic clinical services should be delivered, resourced and measured. One of the key priorities is to facilitate future organised care and screening for diabetes related complications.

Type 1 diabetes is a particularly complex condition in children and young adults and so it is recommended that their care be delivered in a multidisciplinary setting with access to a consultant paediatric endocrinologist and other diabetes healthcare specialists.

One proposed national model of diabetes care is based on 8-10 regional networks, with the 3 existing Dublin centres acting as a tertiary hub of excellence and continuing to see one third of the national paediatric/adolescent diabetes population. This model has been proposed by the Diabetes Federation of Ireland. The second model came from the Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Dr Colm Costigan, Paediatric Endocrinologist in Crumlin Hospital. This proposes that care be centralised for each region in a dedicated paediatric/adolescent diabetes centre looking after at least 150 children/adolescents. Ideally the centre should be in a regional hospital that has an adult diabetes centre to facilitate transition to adulthood.

The national clinical leads for diabetes and paediatrics are to meet in the next couple of weeks to assess current services across the country; to agree a model of care; and to standardise these across the country. They will also develop criteria for use of CSII therapy (insulin infusion) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and work on policy to prevent and aid the early detection of diabetes in young children and adolescents.

Ultimately, the function of the HSE National Programme for diabetes, among others, is to consider which model is most appropriate and it is working to this end. In parallel, my Department and the HSE will be meeting the Diabetes Federation of Ireland with a view to progressing the issues around the appropriate model of care for children and adolescents with diabetes.