Claffey's call to restore vital diabetes clinic

Social Democrats Councillor Clare Claffey has called on the government to restore the Paediatric Diabetes Clinic service in Mullingar hospital.

In a letter from the consultant endocrinologist Professor Michael O'Grady to parents, he said the service is cancelled immediately due to unsafe staff levels at the clinic.

"As a mother and carer to my Type1 diabetic daughter Kelly, I am really disappointed to recieve the concerning news of the closure of the Paediatric Diabetes Clinic Service at Mullingar Hospital.

"As I know from experience, Type1 Diabetes is a serious life-long and an extremely difficult condition to manage and as parents we need all the specialist support and advice we can get.

"I rely on the expert advice I get from our team in Portiuncula and I can imagine how devastated parents are to be told - after months without a specialist diabetes nurse - that they will now have to travel to Dublin with their children.

Cllr Claffey said she has made contact with the HSE and my Social Democrats colleagues have submitted Parliamentary Questions to the Minister on my behalf.

"Right when everyone's mind is focused on the importance of health, the HSE are closing vital services like this. It's not acceptable and I won't accept it."