Diabetes patient advocate calls for filling of vacant hospital role
The failure of the HSE to address staffing issues for the diabetes services in Mullingar hospital has been identified as a diminution of the service by patients.
The HSE says the hospital is expected to “proceed to recruitment imminently” in respect of a role that has been vacant for more than four months. Norman Dolan of Diabetes Ireland Westmeath Branch says despite political assurances, there has been no indication of that.
Diabetes Ireland is an advocacy group that has provided support, education, and motivation to people affected by diabetes since the early 1960s.
The Westmeath Branch was established in 1996: “John McGrath and Seamus Brogan, who have both sadly passed away, were on that committee, Sean Harrihy is another guy that sadly has passed away, who was active on that committee,” Norman said.
The need for better local services was the focus of the committee: “We felt at the time there was no diabetic care in Mullingar hospital whatsoever. We decided, as a committee, that we would fight to get proper diabetic care into the hospital, which we did.”
In 2008 Dr Shu Hoashi was appointed the consultant endocrinologist, Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar.
Norman said that was a turning point in the delivery of services for diabetic patients: “Since then we have got a dietitian, an extra diabetic nurse, and a podiatrist. In the 1990s, nobody would look at a diabetic foot in the hospital. That was great and we were happy at what we achieved.”
The patient advocate said the hospital was considered a centre of excellence for the treatment of diabetes – however, he feels that recently the HSE is slowly paring back the services.
Four months ago the diabetic dietitian post was vacated, and it has been vacant since. As the hospital covers counties Roscommon, Offaly, Meath, Longford, as well as Westmeath, the demand for the services of a dietitian is high.
“At present there is no diabetic dietitian in the hospital. There’s no DAFNE (dose adjustment for normal eating) programme,” Norman said, “Type 1 diabetics usually go on a pump, so they don’t have to inject up to seven times a day to keep control of their diabetes.
“Nobody recently diagnosed is getting a pump, because there is no adult diabetic dietitian in Mullingar hospital. There’s about 150 paediatric diabetic patients in Mullingar hospital, and a total of almost 1,100 diabetics, that’s type 1 and type 2, attending there.”
Norman, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 33 years ago, has continuously campaigned for investment in diabetes services in Mullingar: “I was 31 when I got my diagnosis, which was late enough,” he said. “It’s an autoimmune disorder. Coeliac and MS are also autoimmune disorders. It’s where your body decides to take on and destroy part of your body.”
Earlier this year, his advocacy brought him face to face with senior political representatives: “I met the Minister of Health on September 9 last and explained the situation with the diabetic care in the hospital. When I told her there was no dietitian she said, ‘oh, that’s a given’, but nothing has happened since.
“I brought it up with Mary Lou McDonald, the opposition leader, when she was in Mullingar campaigning for Catherine Connolly. When Tánaiste Simon Harris was here a month and a half ago, it was mentioned to him. He said, ‘there’s going to be movement on that’, but again nothing has happened.”
He said the level of care provide by the diabetic team led by Dr Shu Hoashi and Dr Ultan Healy is high, but he fears it is starting to be reduced: “We have a fabulous team, including the podiatrist that looks after our feet, and specialist diabetic nurses, but we have no dietitian. Every diabetic needs a dietitian, because food is our killer and if we don’t have someone to advise us on it, it’s extremely troubling.”
HSE statement
When contacted by the Westmeath Examiner on the issue, the HSE said the recruitment process to fill the vacant dietitian position is “currently being progressed”.
The statement said: “The Paediatric Department at Regional Hospital Mullingar provides services for the children living in the midlands including 24/7 ED, a dedicated 25-bed inpatient ward and specialist outpatient services including, among others, a paediatric diabetes service.
“The paediatric diabetes team consisting of an advanced nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse manager, a clinical psychologist and a clinical specialist dietitian, provides an excellent service for children with diabetes in the midlands.
“The post of dietitian in adult services at Regional Hospital Mullingar was recently vacated resulting in a temporary vacancy. The recruitment process to fill this position is currently being progressed. Subject to approval, the hospital expects- to proceed to recruitment imminently.
“The management of Regional Hospital Mullingar have been working to ensure continuity of service and have put in place an interim measure for a limited service to facilitate newly diagnosed patients. All other referrals and appointments will be placed on RHM’s Waiting List following triage,” the HSE statement concluded.