Upset Longford parents deeply concerned over future of paediatric diabetes service

Concerns that paediatric diabetes service in the Midlands could close due to staff shortages are “negatively affecting the health of the children who use the services” a Longford mother has claimed.

“My daughter is one of the 145 children who rely heavily on the support from the Paediatric Diabetes Clinic in Mullingar,” mother Nikki Donlon told the Longford Leader, “She's been relying on the service for 18 months now.”

The monitoring and treatment of diabetes is complex. The parents of sufferers must observe their children around the clock.

They rely on the clinic as a lifeline, for medical advice, ratio adjustments, and further testing of diabetes related complications.

The concerned mother explains why that reliance is essential to avoid hospitalisation at all costs: “When my daughter had a flu recently she lost one month from her life, that's no socialising, no schooling.

Also read: Longford families extremely anxious over paediatric diabetic services at Mullingar hospital

“Can you imagine a sickness much worse? The blood checks, the ketone checks, extra water, no exercise. If the ketones are over a certain level, then straight to hospital,” she explained.

The worry about the service came to light last week when Head of the Paediatric Diabetes Services in the Regional Hospital Mullingar wrote to parents about his concerns for the future of the service due to “a chronic staffing crisis”.

Three years ago the clinic closed for a number of months because of staff shortages and lack of resources.

Professor Michael O'Grady said the Paediatric Diabetes service in Mullingar is without any nursing support, and voiced his apprehension about the knock on effects.

Prof O'Grady outlined how the service's advanced nurse practitioner, Niamh O'Rourke, is presently tasked with a nursing workload intended for 2.6 nurses.

The possible loss of service will have a devastating impact on the affected families: “Since I got the letter on Tuesday, I have cried more times than I did when my daughter was first diagnosed at three and a half years of age,” an emotional Nikki told the Leader, “This is the first time in my life I have looked at my daughter and had to realise, okay, you are not the most healthy in the world.

“I can do everything under the sun that I can to protect her, but unfortunately, she's not a priority to everyone else and because of that, I could lose time with her.”

Nikki is overwrought about any threat to the Mullingar service: “I was quite lucky when my daughter was diagnosed. We received fantastic care from the entire Paediatric Diabetes Unit.

“If we were to lose that unit, we will have to go to Galway and Dublin to access that care. If the 145 midland children are spread between Galway and Dublin, then history will just repeat itself. We will put pressure on the teams in Galway and Dublin.

“They will then have over extended staffing levels. This will eventually take away from the care of the children already in the care of those services.”

The Longford mother says the Mullingar service benefits the entire system: “The alternative is that our 145 children are pushed into the paediatric urgent care wards. If this happens it will take more than one doctor or nurse to treat our children.

“Our children will take double the amount of resources from an already overstretched and understaffed paediatric ward, which will cause completely avoidable health complications for all children in the Midlands.”

Nikki says the lack of resources in the Paediatric Diabetes Clinic in Mullingar has a real life impact on sufferers: “Some children have insulin pumps and some are on injections. They receive pumps via the post, and then have training dates allocated. These appointments have to be cancelled because of the current situation.”

The impacts on the families are immense: “If Mammy had no support to turn to, she'll still turn up and keep a brave face in order to support her daughter.

“We're parents, and while we would move mountains for our children, we are only parents, not medical professionals. A quick phone call to a nurse provides the guidance, reassurance and support that is needed within five minutes.”

In a statement the Health Service Executive (HSE) said the provision of high quality paediatric diabetic services is a priority of the Regional Hospital Mullingar.

They went on to say an interim plan was discussed with the clinical lead last week and a commitment to finalise a solution to address longer-term staffing needs of the service was provided by hospital management.

Also read: Longford parents concerned as ‘unsafe staffing levels’ are a severe threat on diabetes unit

Nikki believes that such actions should not be piecemeal: “News is circulating that a green light has been given for hiring a nurse, but we need to ensure that this nurse is well supported,” she concluded.