The Donegal branch of Diabetes Ireland is seeking a meeting with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and the HSE as soon as possible to discuss how inequalities in accessing diabetes care in Donegal can be tackled.
Figures published this week show that of the 522 adults attending Letterkenny University Hospital, 387 are currently awaiting a review appointment.
Of those, 112 people are waiting up to two years, and 39 even longer than that.
Diabetes Ireland says all these delays are directly associated with the lack of staffing and under-resourced diabetes team at the hospital.
Diabetes Ireland has suggested having consultant endocrinologists from Galway provide some temporary outreach outpatient diabetes satellite clinics in Letterkenny until the vacant posts are filled.
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Statement in full –
DIABETES CARE IN LETTERKENNY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL STILL UNRESOLVED
Despite ongoing efforts by the Donegal branch of Diabetes Ireland to improve adult
diabetes services in Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH), the critical situation
remains unresolved with little or no engagement by the government and the HSE.
No solutions have yet been found to solve the situation. Although multiple
Parliamentary Questions were asked by local TDs, the replies are not satisfactory
and don’t suggest any solutions for more than 500 adults with type 1 diabetes
receiving diabetes care in Donegal.
Of the 522 adults attending LUH, 387 are currently awaiting a review appointment.
Of those waiting, 236 are waiting for less than 6 months (61%). Almost 40% wait for
much longer (112 people up to 2 years, and 39 even longer than that), which means
that the clinical guidelines recommendations for adults with type 1 diabetes from
2018 are not being met (diabetes review appointment bi-annually, every 6 months).
These delays are directly associated with the lack of staffing and under-resourced
diabetes team in LUH. Although multiple consultant posts are approved, there is
currently only one consultant endocrinologist privately contracted for 12 hours per
week to provide outpatient diabetes services.
The Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland hopes to meet the Minister for Health and
the HSE as soon as possible to tackle these inequalities in accessing diabetes care
in Donegal. The Branch has suggested having consultant endocrinologists from
Galway provide some temporary outreach outpatient diabetes satellite clinics for
adult patients with Type 1 diabetes which will help alleviate the situation there until
the vacant posts are filled. Hopefully, a meeting with the HSE might shed some
further light on the suggestion.
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