Paediatric Diabetes nurse to join Midlands service for short-term support

The Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar (RHM) has confirmed that an experienced Paediatric Diabetes Nurse will be added, in the short term, to the current staffing for the service from Monday.

In a statement today, the hospital said its management had been working on a range of solutions to address the immediate and longer term challenges that have arisen for the Paediatric Diabetes Service.

The statement comes at the end of a week in which concerns were expressed by parents and clinicians over the future of the service.

The hospital said: "We can now confirm that a skilled and experienced Paediatric Diabetes Nurse is being made available to supplement the current staffing at RHM, from within the region, and will provide short term support for parents from Monday, 15th April 2024. This is to ensure continuation of services. This additional resource will be in place until the new appointee transfers officially to the new unit to support the current team.

The hospital management said outpatient clinics are continuing to be scheduled and have not been disrupted.

It said there is a 24/7 oncall paediatric registrar who is also a point of contact available for parents.

"There are a range of longer term solutions that we are working with DMHG to ensure further stability to the Paediatric Diabetes Service at Regional Hospital Mullingar," it said, stating that the clinical team for the Paediatric Directorate has agreed to this solution.

The hospital said it regretted "any confusion and upset that you may have experienced in this past week".