The Saolta Group has committed to putting a focused effort into the diabetes care service at Letterkenny University Hospital following the planned resignation of two endocrinologists.
Patients’ concerns over the loss of Consultant Endocrinologists for adult diabetes services were highlighted at the Regional Health Forum on Tuesday.
It comes after the new second Consultant Endocrinologist who only started in LUH a few weeks ago resigned within a few weeks of beginning work at the hospital.
A spokesperson for Saolta confirmed that the permanent consultant resigned for personal reasons and there is no deeper underlying issue.
“We are very aware of the criticality in the Diabetes services of the consultant post, we will do everything we can to recruit into it,” said Ann Cosgrove, Chief Operations Officer at Saolta.
Ms Cosgrove told Councillor Gerry McMonagle, chair of the HSE Western Regional Health Forum that temporary measures will be introduced to ensure the service is not disrupted.
A second post has been filled by a physician with a special interest in Diabetes.
“Saolta will do everything we can to support recruitment into the post and also to put in place whatever interim arrangements we can whenever the person leaves to ensure we maintain clinics,” Ms Cosgrove said.
“We have approval for an integrated post, 50% in hospital and 50% in community, and we will probably use that as an opportunity where you are going to recruit two people. It may attract people into the system.
Earlier this week, the Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland raised questions over the speed of both resignations.
When this was raised, Ms Cosgrove said: “It was a personal/private reason for the person resigning from this post, it’s my understanding that it wasn’t to do with the work conditions or otherwise. It was their own private decision.”
