Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy said, I have met the group in question, which is very active and effective in Donegal. I will highlight some of the important progress that our healthcare workers in Letterkenny University Hospital, LUH, have achieved. It really is very encouraging to see. In the last while, they have reduced the number of patients awaiting first appointment by two thirds, which is fantastic. I will double-check, but I think in just the last year they brought that figure down from 243 patients to just 85. Obviously, we want to bring it within the normal Sláintecare target of between ten and 12 weeks, but a reduction of two thirds is very encouraging to see. All patients with type 1 diabetes are now getting their first appointment within six to eight weeks, which was not the case previously. Most patients with type 2 diabetes have been waiting less than six months and that figure is also coming down. Our target is ten to 12 weeks, whereas previously the waiting time was up to two years. I commend the healthcare workers in LUH and the community on this huge achievement. Why is it happening? It is partly because we opened a new community hub in February last year. This has resulted in important improvements in patient care, with 10,000 individual patient interactions with more than 2,000 patients completed since its opening.

Regarding the concerns raised, recruitment for the consultant post in the community hub is also under way. The recruitment for the endocrinology posts is being advanced. I know there is frustration and that these posts have been advertised before. The fact that we are now advertising for them under the new consultant contract should make a significant difference.

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