18-month wait over as hospital names skin specialist

A major children’s hospital is to appoint a new consultant dermatologist after a 18-month delay.

However, the hospital still cannot see any new referrals due to its existing list of patients awaiting review.

Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin made numerous unsuccessful attempts to recruit a locum consultant dermatologist but only managed to find a suitable candidate last week.

When the post was first advertised by the HSE last March, no one applied.

Some parents had their children treated privately because the hospital had been unable to accept new referrals from GPs since December last year.

Towards the end of May, the hospital started tackling its existing waiting list of more than 1,400 children with a Saturday clinic run by consultant dermatologists from other hospitals.

It is hoped that the Saturday clinics run by consultants from Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Dublin and regional hospitals will clear the list by the year end.

A mother whose child had been waiting over a year to see a dermatologist said she was furious when the hospital launched a fundraising campaign with a major skincare company last month.

“I think it is an absolute disgrace that they teamed up with a skincare company at a time when it is unable to provide medical care to children with skin conditions,” she said.

However, Temple Street said there had been repeated unsuccessful attempts to recruit a locum consultant dermatologist over the last 10 months. It is understood that a lack of resources was not to blame, but rather a lack of suitable candidates.

Interviews took place last week and a suitable candidate was found.

The consultant is due to begin working at the hospital in October.