Mayo Sinn Féin TD, Rose Conway-Walsh, has called on the government to take immediate action to support MUH to reopen the diabetes in pregnancy service as soon as possible.
Deputy Conway-Walsh said: "I have this morning received confirmation from the HSE that diabetes in pregnancy services are not being provided at MUH.
"Pregnant women in Mayo with gestational diabetes are being transferred from MUH to Galway for their maternity care due to staff shortages. Most concerning is that there is no date for the resumption of these services.
"I have written to the Minister to ask why this has been allowed to happen, and particularly around the replacement of a diabetes specialist midwife and available funding for a consultant endocrinologist, a clinical nurse specialist for diabetes and a dietician for diabetes in pregnancy to Mayo University Hospital. This is one of a number of very serious challenges we are facing here in Mayo.
"I have also just received information that the average wait time for inpatients on waiting lists to access care in MUH has gone from 292 to 403 days since last December.
"Despite the best efforts of dedicated staff, the medical care to people in Mayo and the West in general is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Recently, we have seen in the West the highest rates of people on trolleys, spiralling waiting lists and ambulance shortages. The government need to wake up to the reality of the situation and put in place an emergency response."
