Diabetic services at ‘crisis point’

Diabetic services in Waterford are at “crisis point” as hospital consultant and community specialist positions are lying unfilled.

Diabetics with type 1 diabetes are being told they need to travel to neighbouring counties to access insulin pumps and there is a two- year waiting list before a diabetic’s file will even be assessed by University Hospital Waterford’s (UHW) lone endocrinologist.

In addition, three badly needed community diabetic positions have not been filled by the HSE in the South East even though more than 75% of diabetics in Waterford are failing to meet target glucose levels.