'High quality paediatric diabetic service' a priority, say hospital management
Statement on behalf of Regional Hospital Mullingar, issued yesterday, Wednesday, evening
The provision of high quality paediatric diabetic services is a priority of the Regional Hospital Mullingar. In recent years there has been increasing demand on paediatric diabetes services linked to a nationally recognised increased prevalence of childhood diabetes.
The Paediatric Department at Regional Hospital Mullingar provides services for the children living in the midlands including 24/7 A&E, a dedicated 25-bed inpatient ward and specialist outpatient services including, among others, a paediatric diabetes service. Consultant paediatrician numbers have been increased in recent times with two permanent posts filled in the last year.
The national and international scarcity of specialist trained paediatric nursing staff has posed significant challenges to the continuity of paediatric services at Regional Hospital Mullingar in recent years. The hospital has maintained the provision of existing services, catering for 12,000 children, within existing resources and by utilising cross cover specialities, initiating adaptation programmes to upskill international recruits and with agency supplementation.
The paediatric diabetes team consisting of an advanced nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse manager, a clinical psychologist and a dietician (half time) were fully staffed in recent years. This provided an excellent service for children in the midlands with diabetes which unfortunately is now challenged by reduced staffing levels. There are a number of opportunities for paediatric nurses to join the team in MRHM and these posts are currently advertised.
The management of the Regional Hospital Mullingar have been working to ensure continuity of the Paediatric Diabetes Service and have recently progressed contingency plans to cover periods of leave availed by staff. While recruitment has been successful for the diabetes service, the release of the successful candidate has not been possible due to the pressures on the unscheduled care service and unfortunately, there is also a challenge given the specialist nature of the position to secure agency cover.
An interim plan was discussed with the clinical lead at a meeting last week and the hospital management provided a commitment to finalise a solution towards addressing the longer term staffing needs of this service which ensures stability and avoids any impact for paediatric diabetes patients and their families.
The hospital does not underestimate the challenges of a child with diabetes and the importance of this service and recognise the importance of the staff supporting this service on a daily basis.