‘Young lives at risk’ due to hospital staffing shortages in Kilkenny

Young people living with type 1 diabetes in Kilkenny are being hugely impacted by current staffing issues at St Luke’s General Hospital.  

Due to staff resignations in late 2023, there is currently a shortage of paediatric nurses with the necessary ability to deliver training in how to use life-saving insulin pumps.

This means that at least 14 local young people on the waiting list for insulin pumps face mounting delays getting their pumps fitted.

For local young people with type 1 diabetes like Aaron Glennon (13), this situation is having a huge impact on his life, and could potentially be putting it in danger.

 Aaron’s mother Avril has reached out to Kilkenny Live to highlight just how serious the implications of the situation are.

“When Aaron was diagnosed first, he would’ve been seen in St Luke’s every three months for a review,” she explained. 

“He would meet a dietician, a nurse and a consultant and they would see what would have to be adjusted.

“Now that’s been pushed back to every five or six months, so even with the regular check-ups, the level of care there has gone down.

“This is not right. This is a serious disease that can get very serious, very quickly.

“My son is 13, at this stage of his life, coming into his teenage years, between puberty and hormones and growth spurts, it’s very difficult to keep his blood sugars under control.”

As well as the physical implications that type 1 diabetes brings into Aaron’s life, it also has an overbearing effect on his personal, social and family life.

“He’s looking to go to his first disco soon and already we have the panic of: Where is he going to put his insulin pen? He can’t bring a bag in case the bag gets locked with an insulin pen in it. What if it gets into the wrong hands? It’s never ending.”

Avril believes if Aaron received the training to use an insulin pump, the family wouldn’t have to worry about issues like this and that Aaron would be able to live a much more normal life.

She also explained the risks of diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening, and that constantly hangs over them.

“Young lives are at risk here,” she said. “And it shouldn’t take going to the media for issues like these to be addressed.”

When approached to comment on the issue, a spokesperson for Ireland East Hospital Group stated that ‘following the loss of two Clinical Nurse Specialists in the Diabetes Service in late 2023, St Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny has been actively trying to recruit an appropriate replacement’.

They continue: “A successful candidate is due to take up the post in the coming weeks. As a result, the Ireland East Hospital Group and St Luke’s Hospital are hopeful that the Paediatric Diabetic Service can resume over the summer.

“There is no issue with access to the appropriate medical equipment, such as insulin pumps. The current issue is around the training of staff in the appropriate discipline. Once that is resolved the Choice Training can restart. 

“The Choice Training is a structured education programme for patients and parents/carers. It is the gold standard for patient education prior to commencing on an insulin pump.

“The Ireland East Hospital Group and St Luke’s Hospital understands that this situation is unsatisfactory, however the staff are doing everything possible to have the Paediatric Diabetic Services operational as soon as possible.”

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