Parents’ relief as Paediatric diabetes service resumes

The Paediatric Diabetes Service’s outpatient clinic at Midlands Regional Hospital reopened this morning, Tuesday June 1, after being temporarily closed in February due to a shortage of staff.

In a letter to the parents and guardians of the around 130 children from across the region who attend the service, consultant paediatrician Professor Michael O’Grady said that “following significant developments in the approval and recruitment of multidisciplinary team members” it was resuming today.

Among the new recruits are an advanced nurse practitioner who recently commenced working, a senior dietician who is due to start in mid-June and a temporary clinical nurse manager who is scheduled to join the team in August. The recruitment of a clinical psychologist has also been approved, but the campaign has been impacted by the recent cyber attack on the HSE’s computer system, Prof O’Grady said.

The senior consultant also paid tribute to parents for their efforts to get the service reopened. “This could not have occurred without your advocacy on behalf of the service,” he said.

The news has been welcomed by Minister of State Robert Troy (FF) and Meath West TD Johnny Guirke (SF).

Minister of State Troy said that the resumption of the services will be a “huge relief” to parents.

“They have had to endure unnecessary uncertainty for the last number of months. It is unfortunate that it came to this but now we welcome the fact that we have got a service that is adequate and one that the professor is happy to deal with.

“We want to make sure that it is maintained and that we continue to enhance it. It is a critical service in the midlands. It is not just for Mullingar, it is for a much wider catchment area of Longford, Westmeath and part of Offaly.

“It is something that I have been in continuous contact with the HSE and the Minister of Health about to try and get this matter resolved. I just welcome the fact now that we have a positive resolution,” he said.

Deputy Guirke said that resumption of the services is “great news for the children, adolescents and all their families who have continuously called for the resumption of services at Mullingar Hospital”.

“The news that the service was to stop was a devastating blow to everyone attending these clinics, and an unwanted headache for families as they were told that they also had to attend other clinics further away from their homes.

“The parents’ group that contacted my office throughout this should also be praised for their endeavours, they never took no for an answer and this is brilliant news for all those concerned and no more than they deserve,” he said.