The HSE health regions were established to improve hospital and community healthcare services, empower local decision-making and support population-based service planning. I support this completely but I am concerned about the centralisation this may cause within the regions themselves. The north-west region often has to compete and fight over the same limited resources as we did during the hospital hub situation. Letterkenny desperately needs a diabetes integrated practice unit. Donegal, under the criteria, warrants its own paediatric endocrinologist - a full team in Letterkenny. Sharing resources with Sligo is not sufficient. Both counties have service demands and their staffing shortages are demographically different. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, recognised this and the individual consideration for each county when establishing surgical hubs. Will the Taoiseach please ensure diabetes care in Donegal will be given the same separate and equal consideration?

Sentiment score: 0.12