Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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195. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding to appoint a clinical psychologist to each acute hospital diabetes multidisciplinary team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45341/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Model of Integrated Care for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes sets out that diabetes is to be managed within the acute system by the diabetes multidisciplinary team including access to psychology support where available. However, I acknowledge there is a deficit in the number of hospital staff providing psychological services dedicated to diabetes care.

The 2021 National Service Plan recognised the need for an unprecedented expansion of the permanent health workforce through permanent appointments. Funding has been provided for an increase to approximately 135,655 WTE across the health service by December 2021, which is an increase of 15,838 WTE over funded 2020 levels. There is significant workforce recruitment underway. The HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy identifies the specific roles and grades to be hired.