Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1920. To ask the Minister for Health if the Ireland East Hospital Group has rejected a locally approved business case for a clinical psychologist, an integral part of the multidisciplinary team for the paediatric diabetes service in the Regional Hospital, Mullingar which earlier in 2021 closed due to unsafe staffing levels; and his views on this urgent matter in addition to referring to the HSE for a reply. [19297/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the concern and stress that the temporary suspension of services at the Paediatric Diabetes Service in Regional Hospital Mullingar is causing to patients and their families. The Health Service Executive has assured me that it is doing everything possible to have the Paediatric Diabetic Services operational as soon as possible.

The HSE has advised me that a new campaign to fill the vacancy for a Paediatric Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist went live on Wednesday 24^thMarch 2021. The HSE has also advised that, in order to have the service re-opened, the Ireland East Hospital Group was granted funding for an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) for the Paediatric Diabetes Service and that a further competition is now active. Assuming a successful outcome to this recruitment campaign, the HSE has advised the service will reopen by the end of April.

In relation to the specific query raised in relation to a business case for a clinical psychologist for the service, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.