Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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278. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the status of the development of adequate diabetes consultant and CNS staff for paediatric and adult diabetic care in a hospital (details supplied). [18460/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.