Saolta chiefs have given assurances that interviews are being scheduled to fill all three vacant Consultant Endocrinologist positions at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The recruitment process for one of the posts has been restarted after a candidate who was originally offered the job earlier this year decided not to take up the position.
A number of candidates are also awaiting interviews for two other permanent Diabetes care positions in LUH and the Enhanced Community Care Programme (ECC Programme).
There are currently no Consultant Endocrinologists at LUH. The hospital operates with one Consultant Physician with a special interest in Diabetes Mellitus at LUH, along with one Consultant Paediatrician with a Special Interest in Diabetes and one Paediatric Registrar with a special interest in Diabetes, while a Galway Consultant Endocrinologist for diabetes and pregnancy provides a monthly clinic on site in LUH.
Saolta has been urged to do all it can to address patient delays accessing diabetes care at LUH.
The call was made at the AGM of the Regional Health Forum West, where new Chairperson Ciaran Brogan said that no stone should be left unturned in addressing current challenges.
“It’s an issue that is causing an awful lot of anxiety and stress for many families,” Cllr Brogan said.
“We need to continue to work together to overcome the hurdles there.”
A statement from the hospital group said it also attempted to recruit locums and did secure a fixed term consultant from the Hospital/Community shared post for 12 months, ending in January 2024.
“Letterkenny University Hospital is committed to improving access for our Diabetes Patients. In the last year, our focus has been on those awaiting a first appointment with a hospital consultant,” commented Ann Cosgrove, Interim CEO of Saolta University Health Care Group.
In the past year, the total number awaiting a first appointment has reduced from 243 to 40, and from a wait time of just over 2 years to under 12 months.
All patients referred with Type 1 Diabetes are now offered an appointment within 6-8 weeks. There are 40 patients with Type 2 Diabetes 40 patients who are awaiting an appointment date, the majority of patients have been waiting less than 3 months.
Ms Cosgrove acknowledged that recruitment in Letterkenny is “particularly challenging” but that recent recruitment advertisements have provided some reassurance that the situation will ease soon.
“Although recruitment, and consultant recruitment in particular, has been particularly challenging we are glad to note that our new service model is proving more effective in attracting candidates. We are fortunate to have the ongoing support of LUH and look forward to successfully recruiting new consultant colleagues in the coming months. We will also be working in collaboration with patients and Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland to further define the multidisciplinary supports required for our patients,” Ms Cosgrove said.
