Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive plans to fill sanctioned posts in areas of diabetes care, specifically one integrated diabetes nursing post to serve the new Mid-West integrated care area, 1.2 diabetes nurse specialist posts to be shared between Limerick and Galway and a 0.75 dietician post for Limerick to allow for the wider availability of insulin pump therapy to children and adolescents in the HSE West the recruitment process for these posts has been completed and has identified a panel of successful candidates but letters of appointment have been so far unissued; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24956/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The HSE National Clinical Care Programmes provide a national, strategic and co-ordinated approach to a wide range of clinical services.

Currently there are 33 Clinical Programmes, including one for diabetes, in different stages of development/implementation. The programmes have three main objectives – to improve the quality of care, to improve access and to improve cost/value, effectiveness.

The National Integrated Care Diabetes Programme is being implemented on a phased basis. The programme will improve patient access and manage patient care in an integrated manner across service settings, resulting in better outcomes, enhanced clinical decision making and the most effective use of resources.

Funding has been approved for the appointment of 17 Integrated Care Diabetes Nurse Specialists (one per HSE Integrated Service Area) to support the phased roll out of the programme. These Diabetes Nurse Specialists will work 1 day per week in a hospital setting and 4 days per week in primary care. They will play a key role in the development of clinically sound collaborative links between primary care and secondary care providers and will also be an essential resource in empowering patients to achieve optimum diabetes control. It is anticipated that all 17 positions will be filled shortly.

The podiatry and paediatric diabetes care posts are under recruitment and the aim is to have them filled as soon as possible in 2013.

In relation to the queries regarding specific locations raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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221. To ask the Minister for Health when he intends to fill sanctioned posts in critical areas of diabetes care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24974/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The HSE National Clinical Care Programmes provide a national, strategic and co-ordinated approach to a wide range of clinical services

Currently there are 33 Clinical Programmes, including one for diabetes, in different stages of development/implementation. The programmes have three main objectives – to improve the quality of care, to improve access and to improve cost/value, effectiveness.

The National Integrated Care Diabetes Programme is being implemented on a phased basis. The programme will improve patient access and manage patient care in an integrated manner across service settings, resulting in better outcomes, enhanced clinical decision making and the most effective use of resources.

Funding has been approved for the appointment of 17 Integrated Care Diabetes Nurse Specialists (one per HSE Integrated Service Area) to support the phased roll out of the programme. These Diabetes Nurse Specialists will work 1 day per week in a hospital setting and 4 days per week in primary care. They will play a key role in the development of clinically sound collaborative links between primary care and secondary care providers and will also be an essential resource in empowering patients to achieve optimum diabetes control. It is anticipated that all 17 positions will be filled shortly.

The podiatry and paediatric diabetes care posts are under recruitment and the aim is to have them filled as soon as possible in 2013.

In relation to the queries regarding specific locations raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.