{
  "id": 12081153,
  "title": "Concerns raised after suspension of diabetes clinic",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/concerns-raised-after-suspension-of-diabetes-clinic",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-05T05:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/1005/1593972-diabetes-clinic/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A group representing diabetes patients in the Midlands has expressed serious concerns over the temporary suspension of a specialist diabetes clinic at Regional Hospital Mullingar due to staffing shortages. Over 20 years ago, the then-Health Minister Mary O Rourke committed to establishing a specialised service in Mullingar, but the clinic has been closed due to vacant Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Specialist Dietitian positions. Mr Dolan, a type 1 diabetic from Delvin, Co Westmeath, who campaigned for the clinic for many years, is disappointed by the closure and concerned about the future of patients who rely on the specialist teams for their care. The HSE has confirmed the closure is temporary and is making efforts to restore the service as soon as possible. However, patients are not convinced, as the dietician position has been vacant for over two years and the clinic's nurses have since retired. The HSE is working to recruit for the vacant positions, but patients are calling for a timeline on its re-opening and express worry about the duration of the closure.",
  "summary": "A group representing diabetes patients in the Midlands has expressed serious concern at the temporary closure of a specialist clinic based at Regional Hospital Mullingar.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}