Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

29. To ask the Minister for Health what plans, if any, are in place to deal with the crisis in diabetes care at Letterkenny Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25768/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) is fully funded for the recruitment of two consultant endocrinologist posts with 100% commitment at LUH and a further consultant endocrinologist post with a 50% commitment to LUH and 50% commitment to Primary Care/Enhanced Community Care.

Recruitment to fill those posts is currently underway. There are applicants for these posts, interview dates are being scheduled and candidates are awaiting interview.

These posts have been advertised more than once, but similar to some other Model 3 hospitals it has proven difficult to identify suitable candidates. Notwithstanding this, LUH remains committed to the recruitment process and recent recruitment advertisements have provided some re-assurance that the recruitment challenges will soon ease.

With existing resources, LUH facilitates four adult outpatient clinics per month (2 Diabetic clinics, 1 Endocrine Clinic, and 1 GIM/Endocrine clinic). In addition to these clinics there are 1 pump clinic and 1 transition clinic.

LUH runs four Paediatric Diabetes Outpatients Clinics per month. Two of these are Consultant led and the other two are nurse led.

LUH currently has two WTE Diabetes ANPs, one in Paediatric Diabetes and one in Gestational Diabetes. Injection Clinics and Pump Clinics are held twice per month and an ANP Clinic is held twice weekly. It is anticipated that the Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) programme will be introduced in LUH later this year.

LUH currently employs 2.5 WTE dietitian posts in its Diabetes service, and two WTE Acute Clinical Nurse Specialists, as well as one WTE staff nurse and a clerical officer.

I, as Minister, and LUH remain fully committed to improving access to care for patients with Diabetes. Resolution of the recruitment challenges in relation to the fully-funded Consultant posts will be the key to the further development of services available and to the sustainable delivery of services to patients in the long term.