Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Sligo University Hospital provides an essential high-quality hospital care to patients in the Northwest. I can assure the Deputy of the continued commitment to develop services in Sligo, including those for patients with diabetes.

With regard to paediatric diabetes services, an insulin pump therapy service commenced at Sligo University Hospital in early 2015, with outreach clinics delivered at Letterkenny. However, in mid-April the consultant paediatrician with a special interest in paediatric diabetes post in Sligo became vacant and the Saolta Healthcare Group has advised that it is actively engaged in recruiting a replacement.

Pending completion of the recruitment process, consultant paediatricians at Sligo and Letterkenny Hospitals have undertaken additional training and development to maintain provision of the paediatric insulin pump therapy services at both Hospitals. Further, additional support to these services has now been arranged with another Consultant, currently at another site within the Saolta Group.

Filling the permanent diabetes consultant post in Sligo will enable the Group to further advance its plan for this Diabetes Care Centre; provision of which is included in the 2017 Capital Plan. HSE Estates advise that planning permission for this Centre has been granted; construction is scheduled to commence by year end 2017 and to be completed by Q3 2018.

I will meet with both the HSE and the Saolta Healthcare Group during June, to discuss the current challenges and future development of diabetes services in the Northwest.