Longford families extremely anxious over paediatric diabetic services at Mullingar hospital

Longford families are extremely anxious over the future of paediatric diabetic services at Mullingar hospital due to what Longford / Westmeath Sinn Féin TD Sorca Clarke described as a 'chronic staffing crisis'. 

Deputy Clarke has called on government to to address this crisis immediately and ensure that the diabetes services in the Regional Hospital are adequately funded and staffed.

She said,  “I was in complete shock when I learned that the Paediatric Diabetic clinic in the Regional Hospital Mullingar is once again at risk of closing its doors to the 145 children and families who rely on its critical services due to chronic staffing issues.

“Diabetes is a complex health condition that requires around the clock support, particularly for parents with children who have been newly diagnosed and are not entirely familiar with the different ways it can be effectively managed."

Deputy Clarke continued, "Children should expect to have regular appointments and support once they receive a diagnosis. Children and their parents should not be forced to travel the length and breadth of the country to receive basic and necessary healthcare.

“The Paediatric Diabetic clinic in the Regional Hospital must be kept open and must be appropriately funded and staffed. Children should be able to receive the required care close to home and should not be put under unnecessary stress.

 “The Minister along with the Department must now take the necessary measures to ensure that the clinic and the vital services which it offers are not forced to close its doors. This must be done without delay.

“The Minister must address this crisis immediately and explain to the parents of the children, who are sick with worry, what plans he has in place to address the staffing crisis impacting the Paediatric Diabetes Service. There is no time to waste. Parents and children of Westmeath, Longford and the Midlands deserve better."

Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy has written to the hospital management seeking clarity over the services for children with diabetes at the hospital.

Deputy Troy said: “I’ve been contacted by numerous parents in recent days over nurse staffing issues relating to the care of children with diabetes. Parents have been informed by a consultant that the diabetic nurse services for their children are no longer being staffed. They are understandably extremely anxious that their children will not receive the care they need.

“I have written to the hospital management to ascertain the exact issue and seek clarity over any recruitment and vacancy issues caused by the current embargo on recruitment. I’ve informed them that I would be more than willing to raise any issue with my party colleague Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

“I want to see this issue resolved as a matter of urgency. Children with diabetes deserve to receive the appropriate care.”

The management of Regional Hospital Mullingar, in response to queries from affected parents, issued the following response: “Currently the CNM 11 , Paediatric Diabetes is on scheduled leave. Due to pressures on the Paediatric Nursing Team it has not been possible to date to release a staff member to provide cover for this leave. The Senior Nurse Management team are continuing to explore all options in an effort to achieve this.”