Service pressures put diabetes patients ‘at risk’

The long-term health of thousands of diabetes sufferers is being put at risk after a leading hospital pushed out their annual check-ups to 18 months due to pressures on the service.

Patient advocacy group Diabetes Ireland issued the warning after St Vincent’s University Hospital confirmed it has been forced to lengthen the wait for the routine examination as a result of junior doctor workload issues and surging patient numbers.

Under best-care plans, anyone with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes should still undergo regular check-ups to ensure their condition is not worsening.