A diabetes care team at a Health Service Executive-integrated care hub in Sligo town has established the first onset type 2 diabetes clinic in the north west region.
Dr David Tansey, who is the Integrated Care Consultant Lead for Diabetes services at Benbulbin integrated care hub, said they have "revolutionised the way" patients with type 2 diabetes receive care.
He said patients are sent an appointment within two weeks and added they are seen within ten weeks of the referral.
"I have a special interest in early-onset type 2 diabetes which is patients with type 2 diabetes who are under 40 years of age.
"These patients are high risk of complications, so I have set up the very first dedicated clinic for these patients here at the Benbulbin hub.
"This will keep them living healthy, fulfilling lives for longer. We have revolutionised the way that we care for our 8,000 patients with type 2 diabetes," Dr Tansey said.
Dr Tansey the clinic is "leading the way nationally in delivering cutting edge healthcare" delivering on the Sláintecare vision.
Since it opened two years ago, clinical teams in the Benbulbin hub have facilitated 45,000 patient contacts and accepted 10,000 referrals from GPs and SUH consultants.
The integrated care hub is part of a nationwide community care programme, aimed at reducing acute hospital system pressures while also targeting conditions at an earlier stage of development.
Hub home to three specialist teams
The Benbulbin hub is home to three specialist teams in Diabetes, Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine.
Three consultants spend half of their working time in the hub and the other half in hospital.
Dr Ciara Gough supports the Respiratory team, Dr Arun Eapen supports the Cardiology team and Dr Tansey supports people with Diabetes.
The hub was developed as part of a €240 million nationwide Enhanced Community Care Programme aimed at bringing specialised care closer to their home, away from hospital based care.
Integrated Healthcare Area manager John Fitzmaurice said the hub is "a crucial resource to support people living with chronic diseases in the region".
He said community teams working in an integrated way with both general practice and acute hospital services are ideally placed to provide this care.
Mary Conboy, from Ballintogher, Co Sligo, and Patrick Fox, from Kiltyclogher, Co Leitrim, both attend the Benbulbin hub said the hub has helped them manage their chronic illnesses.
"It's where you would want your family or friends to have access…it's brilliant to be able to park outside the front door and not have to worry about finding parking," they said.
Last month, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill met patients at the the Benbulbin hub in Sligo.
Minister MacNeill said the chronic disease management programme represents a new approach to working with patients to manage their healthcare.
The National Service Improvement Lead for the Integrated Care programme for the Prevention and management of Chronic disease in Ireland, Dr Maria O’Brien, said the hub is "an exemplar in terms of how it was envisioned that the Chronic Disease model should be rolling out across the country".
