Tipperary TD accuses HSE of breaking promises over diabetic services in Carrick-on-Suir

The removal of diabetic care services from Carrick-on-Suir Primary Care Centre is set to become permanent as the HSE has confirmed the service will soon be permanently relocated to the newly-refurbished Tipperary South Chronic Disease Community Specialist Services in Clonmel.

Paul Goff, Acting Head of Primary Care Services for South Tipperary, confirmed this news to Deputy Mattie McGrath in response to a Parliamentary Question the Independent TD tabled to the Minister for Health in the wake of an outcry from councillors in Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District over the removal of diabetic clinics from Carrick Primary Care Centre.

READ ALSO: Councillors call on HSE to restore diabetes clinics to Carrick-on-Suir Primary Care Centre

Deputy McGrath requested from Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill the reason the Diabetic Service was no longer available at Carrick Primary Care Centre and the status of the centre of excellence for diabetic services that was to be established at the former St Brigid’s Hospital in Carrick after its closure.

He received in response, a letter from Mr Goff confirming that the diabetic service is no longer operating from Carrick Primary Care Service “due to the limited availability of clinical spaces at that location”.

“As an interim measure, a decision was made to operate selected multi-disciplinary diabetes clinics from Our Lady’s Hospital, Cashel and St Vincent’s Health Centre in Tipperary Town.”

Mr Goff said he understood monthly diabetes clinical nurse specialist clinics for highly vulnerable patients continue to be provided at Carrick Primary Care Centre.

But he pointed out the Diabetic Service will be permanently relocated to the newly refurbished Tipperary South Chronic Disease Community Specialist Services situated in the former St Paul’s Unit on St Luke’s and Tipperary University Hospital Campus in Clonmel.

He said the Tipperary South Chronic Disease Community Specialist Services facility is projected to be occupied and fully operational by December. Deputy McGrath has described the removal of Diabetic Services from Carrick-on-Suir Primary Care Centre and as a devastating setback for a community still reeling from the loss of its beloved St Brigid’s District Hospital that closed in 2020.

“When it was closed, we were promised the Primary Care Centre would become a centre of excellence for chronic disease management, especially diabetes. That promise has now been broken,” he said.

“Vulnerable patients are being asked to travel long distances for care that was once available in their own town. This move is another slap in the face to every person who fought to keep St Brigid’s open.”

The TD accused the HSE of “making and breaking promises as they wish with no consultation or no regard for the communities that they are supposed to serve. Carrick-on-Suir cannot be left behind”.