Beaumont unable to take new diabetes patients

Beaumont Hospital in Dublin has reportedly banned all new diabetes patients due to a 14-month waiting time for appointments.

The Irish Medical News quotes consultant endrocrinologist Chris Thompson as saying that he has 3,800 patients, compared to the European ratio of 1,000 per consultant.

Dr Thompson said he did not have the resources to take on new patients, even though the number of diabetes sufferers is expected to double by 2004.

He said Beaumont Hospital had sought an extra diabetes specialist and new diabetes nurses in a business plan presented to the Eastern Regional Health Authority, but nobody from the ERHA had discussed that proposal with the hospital.