Diabetics resort to A&E in staff crisis

PEOPLE with diabetes are ending up in hospital casualty units around the country because of a chronic shortage of specialist services that could keep them well, the Diabetes Federation of Ireland (DFI) has claimed.

Particularly badly hit is Mayo, where three monthly appointments with diabetic specialists have been extended out to six and nine months.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said that waiting times had increased for both new and review patients at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar.