The absence of children’s rheumatology services in the West and the lack of data on how many children are seeking these services is deeply concerning, according to Cllr John Connolly.
Cllr Connolly, Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Galway West, raised the issue of children’s rheumatology services in Connacht-Ulster at this week’s Regional Health Form West meeting, which took place on Tuesday 26 November.
Cllr Connolly asked health officials for figures on how many children in the region are awaiting an initial appointment for paediatric rheumatology; the average waiting time for a first appointment; and which hospitals or centres children are referred to for formal paediatric rheumatology consultation.
In response, Cllr Connolly was informed that Galway University Hospital does not have a Paediatric Rheumatology Waiting List, but all children referred to GUH will be seen by a General Paediatrician. If a formal paediatric rheumatology opinion is required, the child will then be referred to Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin.
Cllr Connolly was further informed that Portiuncula and Mayo university hospitals do not have Paediatric Rheumatology services; while Letterkenny University Hospital does not have a Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist. These hospitals, along with Sligo University Hospital and paediatric patients in HSE Mid West, are also referred to Children’s Health Ireland.
The absence of such paediatric rheumatology services in Connacht-Ulster means that the number of patients referred and their wait times are not available locally, a situation which Cllr Connolly finds “highly unsatisfactory”.
“At the very least, each hospital should keep records of the numbers seeking paediatric rheumatology,” he said. “Such figures are vital if we want to make the case for developing such services. The demand is clearly there, but unless we can show the scale and level of need, it will be impossible to formally make the case for having paediatric rheumatology services in Connacht-Ulster.”
Cllr Connolly said the HSE West and the incoming Government need to put a plan in place to collect data on paediatric rheumatology needs across the Western region and develop such services within the region’s various hospitals.
