Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Health when a paediatric diabetic specialist will be appointed at university hospital Galway. [29071/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Galway University Hospital serves as a regional centre for the delivery of diabetes, endocrine and related services in the West of Ireland. This clinical care is delivered in close collaboration with related education and research programmes in the National University of Ireland, Galway.

During 2015 a consultant vacancy arose in the paediatric diabetes service at Galway University Hospital. The Saolta Healthcare Group prioritised the filling of this consultant paediatric diabetes specialist post and a candidate was selected in late 2015. However delays arose, and in February 2017 the Hospital was advised that the candidate was no longer in a position to take up the post.

In light of the importance of this post, it has been re-advertised by the Public Appointments Service as a priority, and applications have now been received. The HSE is actively engaging with the Public Appointments Service in order to fill this critical post as soon as possible.

In the interim, the Saolta Healthcare Group has been making every effort to provide appropriate diabetes care services to paediatric patients. Children under the age of 12 years are currently referred to University Hospital Limerick for diabetes treatment, while patients aged 12 years and over are commenced on insulin pump therapy under the guidance of a consultant endocrinologist at GUH.

The Saolta Healthcare Group has advised that it is committed to urgently recruiting a permanent paediatric diabetes consultant to Galway University Hospital in order that the Hospital can provide comprehensive paediatric diabetes services, so that children do not have to travel to hospitals outside the Hospital Group.