Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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595. To ask the Minister for Health if a replacement has been selected to fill a soon to be vacated paediatric endocrinologist consultant post based in Sligo University Hospital; if so, the date the selected candidate will take up the post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18103/17]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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625. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that immediate recruitment of a paediatric endocrinologist consultant to Letterkenny University Hospital (details supplied) will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18251/17]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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636. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for providing a full paediatric diabetes service at a hospital (details supplied) in County Donegal in view of the recent removal of service due to staff changes in particular a paediatric diabetes endocrinologist; if all staff are in place for the delivery of such a service in the hospital at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18277/17]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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637. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm the appointment of a second endocrinologist adult services along with the additional diabetic nurse specialist and diabetic dietician for a hospital (details supplied) in County Donegal; if the adult diabetes service is fully staffed at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18278/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 595, 625, 636 and 637 together.

A Paediatric Insulin Pump Services was initiated in May 2015. This service is based in Sligo University Hospital, with outreach clinics in Letterkenny University Hospital.

The Saolta University Healthcare Group has confirmed that the Consultant Paediatrician with Speciality Interest in Diabetes, who was instrumental in commencing this service, is leaving this post in mid-April. The Saolta Group has recently advised my Department that a consultant paediatrician has been appointed to this post on a temporary basis.

The permanent post is to be filled through public competition via the Public Appointments Service; this process is on-going. In order to address continuity, the clinical service arrangements for the management of the insulin pump service are currently being examined in consultation with the relevant clinical teams.

There is currently one consultant Endocrinologist at Letterkenny University Hospital providing the adult Diabetes service, which serves approximately 700 patients with Type 1, and 6,500 with Type 2 diabetes. The current Consultant Endocrinologist is receiving support from a locum Consultant General Physician who has a diabetic interest.

Additional clinics are being run on monthly basis (1 - 2 extra clinics per month), in order to address waiting lists for the service.

In terms of the future of diabetes services in the North-West, the Saolta Group advises that a business case is currently being prepared in support of a second Consultant Endocrinologist, a Diabetic Nurse Specialist and a Diabetic Dietician, to further support the Letterkenny Diabetes service.