Diabetes unit closure issue raised in Dáil
Síofra Grant
Tánaiste Simon Harris has addressed the suspension of diabetes day services in Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar.
During a Dáil debate on Thursday October 1, the Tánaiste responded to Offaly TD John Clendennen who raised the issue on behalf of his constituents.
Minister Simon Harris responded to Deputy Clendennen’s concerns, thanking him for the, “real, practical examples he has given of the adverse impact when this service is not in place on people and their daily lives”.
Minister Harris said he was aware that the diabetes day service in Mullingar was delivered by four full-time equivalent nursing staff and one dietitian but that he was aware that “currently there is only one staff nurse available for the team”.
“Clearly we have a recruitment issue here that needs to be addressed. I am reliably informed by the minister and the HSE that every effort is being made to fill the vacancies as soon as possible.
“Existing patients will continue to be managed through the consultant diabetes outpatient clinics.”
An Tánaiste did, however, acknowledge that the service has been suspended. “I understand why this is not satisfactory to the deputy’s constituents. This must be temporary. It must be kept as brief as possible.
“I am told they are making every effort to fill the vacancies but they also are looking at other solutions, as the deputy suggested, they need to do [that].
“Redeploying staff to reduce pressure on the service could indeed be one. Patients currently attending the diabetes day service are advised to continue following their existing care plans but also to attend consultant outpatient appointments as arranged.”
Mr Harris concluded saying: “The impact of this needs to be minimised. Recruitment needs to be progressed quickly. I will ask the minister for health to keep Deputy Clendennen informed.”
Sorca Clarke, Longford Westmeath TD for Sinn Féin, addressed the matter in a letter to the health minister: “The government and the HSE have questions to answer about when this shortfall was identified, why it wasn’t addressed, and if patients were given proper notice or alternative arrangements.
“This is a patient safety issue, plain and simple. People with type 1 diabetes rely on specialist teams to keep them well and out of hospital. Those teams are now gone and patients and their GPs have been left to cope.
“Closure’s like this don’t happen overnight. The midlands has been failed for too long in regards to health services. We keep losing local services because of chronic under-staffing, while the government fail to recruit and retain the specialist staff we need. Patients in Westmeath and surrounding counties deserve to receive safe care close to home.
“I have written to the minister for health and the HSE seeking an explanation of the staffing shortfall and how the closure was allowed to happen, details of interim arrangements for existing patients, particularly those who are insulin-dependent, a recruitment plan, including short-term measures to restore cover and a clear timeline for reopening a fully and safely staffed service.
“I have asked for an urgent response. Patients and their families need answers, and they need this service back.”