Diabetic nurse hired – but can’t start till 2022
A specialist nurse has been recruited for the paediatric diabetes clinic at Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar, but is unable to start until 2022.
Services at the clinic, which treats some 130 children from Westmeath and neighbouring counties, were suspended last month pending the recruitment of a specialist diabetic paediatric nurse.
A spokesperson told the Westmeath Examiner that the hospital has been “actively engaged in two recruitment campaigns to fill this specialist post”.
“The second campaign has resulted in the appointment of a successful candidate, who, unfortunately is unable to take up duty at the hospital until 2022. The other campaign is ongoing. Regional Hospital Mullingar and the Ireland East Hospital Group hope to complete this process and appoint someone as soon as possible.
“Regrettably, scheduled appointments to the Paediatric Diabetic Service at the hospital have been suspended with effect from February 1.
“However, during this period prescriptions will still be available to patients as required and any questions from parents or patients will be addressed.
“In addition, children requiring unscheduled care can been seen in the hospital’s Emergency Department as necessary.
“The position of paediatric diabetic nurse is a difficult role to fill given there is only a small number of appropriately qualified and suitably trained nurses within the health services at present.
“The Ireland East Hospital Group and Regional Hospital Mullingar are actively seeking an alternative solution to allow the service reopen and this is a priority.
“The management of the Regional Hospital Mullingar would like to apologise to patients and their families for any distress caused at this time,” the spokesperson said.
In a press release issued this week, Deputy Sorca Clarke said that the 130 children and their families have been "left in limbo" and called on the Minister for Health and the HSE need to "up their game".
"This vacancy was first advertised in December 2019. This is not a new issue. The management of the hospital knew the retirement was coming down the line. Credit to the nurse, she stayed on to support the families as she knew how heavily reliant, they were on her and the service.
“As a parent myself, I cannot begin to imagine the stress and anxiety these parents must feel following the cessation of appointments for this invaluable service.
“The complete and utter shock felt by these parents was palpable. While they completely understood Dr. O’Grady’s position and continue to speak very highly of him, they cannot understand why it has had to come to this”
“Ultimately, this multi-disciplinary team needs proper resourcing. Without it, these children are left in limbo and their families face the prospect of having to bring their children to A&E, during a global pandemic, should they have any “unscheduled care needs”.
"These 130 plus children cannot be forgotten about any longer. The Minister and HSE Departments need to up their game immediately. This incidence alongside many other failings only further highlight the inadequacies within our health care system.”