Podiatry services in County Louth are at crisis point with lengthening waiting lists in both Drogheda and Dundalk but no podiatrist in place to provide care, says Labour TD Ged Nash.
Deputy Nash has asked the Minister for Health and the HSE for answers on this issue and has been told that there was no podiatry service operating out of either Drogheda’s Boyne Primary Care Centre or the Community Services Building in Dundalk.
“This is a particular issue for older citizens and those with chronic conditions like diabetes which require careful management” said Deputy Nash.
“According to the Department of Health, there is a vacancy for a half-post in podiatry in County Louth but even that not been filled with the Department claiming there were no expressions of interest in the post when a national panel was formed to fill it.
“The shocking figures from the HSE up to the end of January, this year, show 326 people waiting for podiatry services in Dundalk and 125 in Drogheda.
“The HSE said there are three new podiatry posts under development for the Louth Diabetes Chronic Disease Management Hub but it says it expects those post to be equally challenging to fill.”
“I’m concerned by the seemingly fatalistic attitude of the HSE on this issue” Deputy Nash added. “It seems to be saying there is no podiatry service in Louth and there is little prospect of getting one.
“The Minister and the HSE cannot simply throw in the towel on providing vitally important health services for our county. If nobody is showing interest in filling these posts then the Minister needs to find out why and address the root cause of the problem.”
Deputy Nash said: “Recruitment and terms and conditions for staff in our health service is at the heart of this crisis and a broader issue with staffing across the health sector.
“It is clear that until the government meets the needs of staff in our health service with real engagement on salaries, safety at work, security of employment and attractive pay and terms and conditions, it will continue to fail to attract professionals to posts like these.
He concluded: “Staff and patients of health services in County Louth, deserve better than this.”
