Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
502. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding to appoint a 0.5 whole-time equivalent clinical psychologist to each acute hospital diabetes paediatric diabetes team; the reason that there is no access to this support outside of Dublin paediatric diabetes services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12435/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDiabetes is a complex condition that can have a profound impact on the quality of life of people living with the condition. The management of emotional and psychological well-being is an important part of diabetes care and self-management.
The Model of Care for Paediatric Healthcare, Chapter 23 Diabetes and Endocrinology (2015) outlines how Paediatric Diabetes Services should be configured regionally to ensure that each affected child and family has access to a trained multidisciplinary team in their region.
Current whole time equivalent (WTE) allocation of clinical psychology to paediatric teams nationally are as follows:
- 0.5 WTE CHI at Crumlin for paediatric diabetes
- 0.5 WTE CHI at Temple Street for paediatric diabetes
- 0.5 WTE CHI at Tallaght for paediatric diabetes
- 0.5 WTE Regional Hospital Mullingar for paediatric diabetes
- 1 WTE general paediatric psychologist in each of University Hospitals Cork, Limerick and Galway shared across paediatric services - not specifically appointed for care of children and young people with paediatric diabetes.
Where there are no mental health team members on the regional diabetes team, children are referred to services depending on their clinical presentation.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) service provides support in the community for children and young people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties. Primary care psychology services and the Jigsaw service can also provide patients with support, although these services may not have clinical expertise regarding children and young people living with diabetes.
Budget 2021 and Budget 2022 provided funding for a large permanent expansion of the workforce, both for the shorter-term needs brought on by COVID-19 and the long-term needs to build capacity to deliver healthcare needs for the population. 2021 and 2022 have seen the largest and second largest annual increases in the workforce since the foundation of the HSE. Funding will continue to be provided in 2022 for the staffing requirements of the health service, staffing increases are determined by the healthcare delivery needs of the service areas providing care.
