BATHURST Hospital has been slammed for its lack of a diabetes educator, with one parent saying is putting her daughter’s health at risk.
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The hospital usually has two diabetes educators, but it has been one down for the past 12 months, while the other resigned from her role two months ago.
A Bathurst woman, who asked not to be named, contacted the Western Advocate to say she had serious safety fears about her young daughter who is a type 1 diabetic.
“My daughter’s diabetes is not stable at present and we need an educator to help us and support by my daughter, and us as parents, with her insulin levels and ratio,” she said.
“As you are aware, diabetes is a life-threatening disease.”
The woman said she had been left feeling concerned and angry by the treatment her daughter has received at the hospital since the most recent diabetes educator left.
During a recent early morning visit to the emergency department (ED), she said the treating doctors and nurses new little about how a diabetic pump worked, and failed to wash her daughter’s finger before a blood glucose test was performed.
My daughter’s diabetes is not stable at present and we need an educator to help us and support by my daughter, and us as parents, with her insulin levels and ratio.
- Parent of a type 1 diabetic child
“The lack of knowledge that this hospital knew at Bathurst Base emergency was horrifying to say the least,” the mother said.
A Western NSW Local Health District spokeswoman confirmed there were currently no diabetes educators on staff, but said recruitment to fill the two positions was underway.
She said a diabetes educator should not be the only person to assist patients.
“People with diabetes receive their primary care from their treating doctor, which may be a GP, paediatrician, endocrinologist or other medical specialist,” the spokeswoman said.
“Their needs may be further supported by a diabetes education service.”
The spokesperson said ED staff recently received training in diabetes management in children, including use of pumps, with an emphasis that it was best-practice to “wash the patient’s fingers with water prior to pricking the skin”.