Diabetes patients launch petition seeking return of day centre services

The members of the Mullingar Diabetes committee gathered at the Annebrook hotel on October 21 for a meeting to discuss how they’ve been managing since the closure of the Diabetic Day centre in Mullingar.

Norman Dolan, member of the committee and organiser of the event, was among the small group that attended and was deeply impacted by the general mood of the attendees.

“I spent an hour and a half hearing constant frustration for people,” said Norman following the meeting. “It was genuinely an unbelievable evening, I always try to throw a bit of humour or whatever in, and it wasn’t working that night.”

Members of the committee and retired staff from Mullingar hospital were present, to hear that following the closure of the centre, patients were experiencing difficulties with their condition.

“Everyone was just saying they knew this was happening and nothing was done, it is difficult to describe the feeling of the night,” said Norman.

One person told the story of how they haven’t been able to replace the sensor for the pump that monitors their blood sugars and notifies them if the numbers are going up or down.

“You’re supposed to get an email from Medtronic about the new sensor, they got them last August and they’ve used up the sensors they had, went to use the new sensor, checked their emails – nothing.

“So now they have to ring Medtronic to get somebody from there to go through a step by step guide with them because there’s nobody in the hospital they can contact.”

That wasn’t the only complaint; another person voiced their struggles with finding an alternative to the day centre.

“They were with their GP during the week getting the anti-flu injection and they asked if the doctor could look after the diabetes. He can’t, he said you need a specialist for type 1 diabetes.”

According to Norman, the 200-plus patients of the day centre received letters telling them to contact their GPs if they need help. But their GPs are not qualified to deliver diabetes care. “It’s laughable – but it’s not. It has been proven over many years that good diabetic care, given the information, can happen at home.”

The committee discussed next steps in their effort to reinstate the day centre. “As a committee we have been working for 30 years, technology has moved on and we haven’t kept up.” They have made the decision to increase their presence on social media especially as a way to get the younger generation involved.

“How else do we get the information to them and contact them because not as many young people pick up the local paper and read it now.

“It’s Snapchat, Facebook, all the different apps, and that was one thing we agreed was to see can we get that up and running.”

The committee are preparing to launch a petition calling for the return of the day centre services. It is available on Change.org under ‘Reinstate Diabetes Day Services at Mullingar Hospital’. Norman remains in shock at how quickly the centre closed, especially with all the work and campaigning the committee had done for three decades.

“When we were in full swing, we had a centre of excellence in Mullingar, and it was through the committee that it was held. We raised €130,000 to €140,000 over the years for buying equipment to aid the hospital, to add to what was already there.”

Patients and committee members now wonder what’s next.

“Our health is in trouble,” said Norman. “We didn’t realise how harmful it is until it happened.”

Longford Westmeath TD Micheál Carrigy said the closure of the diabetes unit at the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar leaves a severe gap in care for people with diabetes. “It is only when a clinic like that closes that people who suffer from diabetes, particularly type 1 diabetes, come and explain the difference it makes in their lives. I cannot understand how we got to a situation where we do not have it staffed.”

“It has had a severe impact on the lives of patients within my community and further afield. I ask that it be highlighted and identified. I have looked for meetings with the management of the hospital about it. This needs to be done immediately.”