Election Ireland 2016 - Have some Fun with our Candidates

The Irish General Election campaign has just over one week to go and I think it's time to have a bit of fun with our election hopefuls on our doorsteps (evil, yet some-what cheeky grin). This is #GE2016 Diabetes Ireland have been posting suggestions for questions to put to your local election candidate in relation to diabetes health care on their Facebook page and Twitter feed. They have been very useful and very specific to each region, which is great!

I have had 4 candidates knock on my door since I got these question suggestions. And it's been great fun! The candidate knocks on my door, I open it, they introduce themselves and ask would I consider them come election day on the 26th February. And then I say "Wait there 10 seconds I need to get my list". The look of their faces is priceless.

They get so nervous - it's really worth it;-)

I know most of us really don't want to engage with these guys and just want to go back inside out of the cold. But, this is a very valuable opportunity for each and every one of us to know what we will be needing from them, the why and the who we are. We are putting human faces on type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

These are are just a few questions that you could ask along with other questions or issues you may have in relation to your diabetes management.

Ask Your Local Election Candidate

Limerick/Galway area. 

Type 1 Diabetes To implement the Paediatric Model of Care, recently launched by the Minister for Health, to meet demand in both Limerick and Galway, our children with type 1 diabetes need;

• 3 consultant paediatric endocrinologists,
• 4 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
• 3 Dietitians. 

What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?    Type 2 Diabetes To support GPs in delivering quality care under the Type 2 Diabetes Cycle of Care scheme, more podiatrists and community diabetes nurse specialists are required.

What will you do to provide a podiatrist and diabetes nurse to support GPs in my area?

Sligo, Donegal and Mayo area

Type 1 Diabetes To implement the Paediatric Model of Care recently launched by the Minister for Health, to meet demand in Sligo, Donegal and Mayo, our children with type 1 diabetes need;

• 1 consultant paediatric endocrinologist,
• 2 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
• 1 Dietitian

What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?

Cork and Kerry area

Type 1 Diabetes  To implement the Paediatric Model of Care, recently launched by the Minister for Health, to meet demand in Cork & Kerry our children with type 1 diabetes need;

• 1 consultant paediatric endocrinologist,
• 3 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
• 1 Dietitian.

What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?

Type 2 Diabetes Do you know 66,000 people with Type 2 diabetes have registered for the Type 2 Diabetes Cycle of Care scheme. All of these have a medical card or GP Visit card.

But what about the 100,000 Type 2 diabetes population who do not qualify for the scheme. When will they get access to the Cycle of Care scheme and get equity of care?

HSE North East and Dublin North area

Type 1 Diabetes To implement the Paediatric Model of Care, recently launched by the Minister for Health, to meet demand in the HSE North East area and Dublin North our children with type 1 diabetes need;

• 3 consultant paediatric endocrinologists,
• 3 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
• 2 Dietitians.

What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?

Dublin, Kilkenny and Wexford areas.

Type 1 Diabetes To implement the Paediatric Model of Care recently launched by the Minister for Health and to meet demand in the Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin, Wexford General Hospital and St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, our children with type 1 diabetes need;

• 4 consultant paediatric endocrinologists,
• 3 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
• 3 Dietitians.

What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?

Dublin and Midlands areas.

Type 1 Diabetes To implement the Paediatric Model of Care recently launched by the Minister for Health and to meet demand in AMNCH, Tallaght and the Midlands Regional Hospitals, our children with type 1 diabetes need;

• 3 consultant paediatric endocrinologists,
• 3 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
• 2 Dietitians

What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?

Go on give it a go! Brave the cold outdoors... even if it's just for the entertaining reaction you get ;-)

Have you had any political canvassers?

Election 2016 is right around the corner and we have had political candidates treading the pavements to our doors.

I answered the door to my very first canvasser last week and I got so lucky-it was the election candidate himself.

Unfortunately I was not prepared. But I was not about to miss this opportunity.

After he introduced himself, I introduced myself; telling him that I was the face behind the emails about the newly published model of care for children with type 1 diabetes. See more about the HSE's Paediatric Model of Care here. And that if elected I would be following up with him on what he can do to ensure these recommendations are implemented.

I also told him that when the Model of Care document was published for Adults in June 2016 with diabetes I would doing the same.

We had a good conversation - more than he bargained I think? I hope you guys do better than I did?

If you are not sure what questions you want to ask your election candidates; Diabetes Ireland published some suggestions for you in their most recent members' magazine with some more information. I have edited them a little.

Questions for your Election 2016 hopeful.

Model of Care for Paediatric Diabetes;

1. What will you do to make sure the HSE's Paediatric Model of Care recommendations are implemented in my area?
2. What will you do to ensure that my child's local diabetes team if fully resourced with all the healthcare professional they require to help my child thrive with type 1 diabetes?
3. This one is very important; What can I do to help you do all of this?

Model of Care for Adult Diabetes;

1. The HSE's Model of Care for Adults with Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes is due for publication in June 2016; what will you do to make sure this happens?
2. What will you do to make sure the HSE's Model of Care for me, an adult living with diabetes, recommendations are implemented in my area?
3. What will you do to ensure that my local diabetes team if fully resourced with all the healthcare professional they require to help my child thrive with type 1 diabetes?
4. This one is very important; What can I do to help you do all of this?