Diabetic children in Cavan and Monaghan being forced to spend hours travelling for vital insulin therapy

Young children and their families are currently having to undertake lengthy journeys to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda in order to procure insulin pump therapy.

Insulin Pump is another way of delivering insulin rather than using a syringe or pen and is widely credited as being a more convenient way in which patients can manage their blood sugar levels.

Cavan-Monaghan TD Pauline Tully broached the topic on the floor of the Dáil yesterday (Thursday) to claim how promises made over its delivery to local patients had now forced many to travel up to three hours in their cars over and back from Drogheda.

“I have raised the issue of the provision of insulin pump therapy for paediatric diabetic patients in Cavan and Monaghan a number of times,” she said, stating that she had been informed of its planned commencement during the final three months of last year.

“I am now being told by the RCSI Hospital Group that a new pathway has been introduced for children in Cavan and Monaghan but it has been introduced at the Drogheda hospital.

“This will not actually help these children because parents now have to bring the children over to Drogheda to get insulin pump therapy.”

The Sinn Féin TD hinted at the possibility she may have been in receipt of “misleading information” and asked if the service was going to be provided on site in Cavan or Monaghan.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he was conscious of Ms Tully’s work in advocating for an extension of insulin pump therapy and asked for a “short note” to be forwarded to him for further investigation.