The HSE and responded to claims by a county councillor about the lack of treatment for diabetics in Co Donegal.
Cllr Frank McBrearty, himself a diabetic, wants the Irish government to make more funds available so people with diabetes in Donegal have greater access to support and services.
He said recently that a major concern for patients with diabetes was the lack of services in podiatry locally following the failure by the HSE to replace the outgoing podiatrist at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The Raphoe politician said more had to be done for patients, especially older people, to have easier access to support in the county.
“I am calling on the HSE and LUH to overhaul and enhance the services for people living with diabetes,” he said.
“Diabetes does not discriminate against children, adults and our older population who suffer from this illness, and women during pregnancy which is becoming more common.
‘I want to commend the work that the Donegal branch of Diabetes Ireland does in continuing to highlight the problems within our services.
“I am aware of peoples appointments being cancelled three and four times, particularly new patients, and this is not good enough,” he added.”Diabetes can cause other medical problems affecting the kidneys, eye, heart, blood pressure and it can lead to people having to have amputations.”
A further concern by Cllr McBrearty is the lack of staff in Donegal clinics for patients in the county.
“We need a tenfold increase in the services available and for it to be accessible at a local level in order for people to avail of the services easier,” he said.
However, the HSE has responded to the claims and outlined the services offer to diabetics locally.
A statement issued to Donegal Daily said a total of 6 Senior Podiatrists (5 whole time equivalents) are employed in Primary Care in Donegal.
The statement said these Podiatrists see persons with a medical card 66 years of age and older with a foot pathology, persons with diabetes of any age with a foot pathology and/or persons with moderate to high-risk diabetes with or without a foot pathology
An average of 44 people per month with diabetic active foot disease were reviewed by Donegal Primary Care in the first four months of 2019, with a total of 242 treatments provided in that period, added the statement.
It also outllined how a range of other services are also provided under Primary Care for the treatment and management of diabetes including, Diabetic Retinopathy Screening service.
A spokesperson for the HSE said “The majority of people in the Donegal with diabetes who have diabetic retinopathy requiring specialist care are seen at Community eye clinics in Letterkenny, Donegal Town, Dungloe, Lifford, Buncrana and Carndonagh.
“There are three Community Ophthalmic Physicians in Donegal with one specialising in Diabetic Eye Disease. All referrals from Diabetic RetinaScreen the National Screening Service for Diabetic Retinopathy are seen initially in the Eye Clinic in Letterkenny or their local community clinic if appropriate with their ongoing follow up in Donegal.
“There were 300 new referrals from Diabetic RetinaScreen in 2018. All laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy is performed in Letterkenny. All laser clinics are conducted jointly with a Community Diabetes Nurse Specialist. Children with diabetes who are under 12 and require screening for diabetic retinopathy are seen in community clinics until they are eligible to attend Diabetic RetinaScreen.
“There are also Integrated Care Diabetes Nurse Specialists in post who work in collaboration with General Practitioners and Practice Nurses, Primary Care Teams and Acute and Community Hospital Services to provide comprehensive specialist care and education for patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
“An on-site clinical service is provided to a large number of GP Practices in Donegal with over 1,200 patients being reviewed in those practices on a yearly basis.
“There are structured education programmes available for the Management of Diabetes for eg the DESMOND Programme. People with Diabetes in Co Donegal also have access to the Quality of Life Programme, which equips participants with the skills required to deal with the many challenges that living with a health condition such as diabetes can present.”
For more information see: www.hse.ie/eng/health/hl/selfmanagement/donegal/programmes-services/stanford-quality-of-life/
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