Kevin O'Keeffe
Ceist:44. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the community nutrition and dietetic services which will be available in north County Cork from May 2018. [23553/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 29 May 2018
Ceisteanna (44)
Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)
It would be remiss of me, being on the losing side, not to congratulate the Minister on the Government's success in amending the Constitution and I look forward to working with him on the initiative. Hopefully he will keep his commitment to providing the healthcare services that will be required. Going back to nuts and bolts, in north Cork, there is a dietician position vacant. It is ironic since the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, sitting next to the Minister has dealt with other issues in north Cork, in Fermoy.
I will be brief. Another invaluable service is out of action in north Cork. Patients who live on their own need dietetic care services when they leave an acute hospital. They need to be able to consult dieticians and GPs. The HSE must buck the trend and employ extra staff.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Health Service Executive has advised my Department that approval for a locum dietitian in Cork north has been given and the recruitment process is under way. The Health Service Executive envisages that this post will be filled by late June. I am also pleased to advise the Deputy that the Health Service Executive has further informed my Department that the vacant post for a dietitian in North Lee has been filled and the successful dietitian for this position is due to start work in July. The situation with vacant positions arose due to staff absences as a direct result of statutory leave such as maternity leave.
As the Deputy is aware, dietitians lead the development and provision of clinical services and programmes targeted to prevent and treat malnutrition, diabetes and obesity in both adults and children. Community dietitians work in the HSE alongside GPs and other HSE health professionals as part of the primary care team. Community dietitians are also involved with nutrition health promotion work in the community and training other health professionals regarding nutrition.
I acknowledge the Minister of State's response, which I am grateful for. I thank her very much.
Could we say the question is concluded and move on?
I acknowledge the reply and hope the HSE will follow through on what has been promised. I look forward to a positive response at the end of June. I thank the Minister of State very much.
I will provide Deputy O’Keeffe with a copy of the reply.