Galway University Hospitals have seen a significant reduction in waiting lists for multiple chronic conditions through the use of local care hubs delivering services in the community.
There are HSE Integrated Care Hubs for individuals with chronic diseases across Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
People with chronic diseases like Asthma, COPD, Type 2 Diabetes or Cardiovascular Disease can be referred directly to a local hub by their GP, instead of being referred to a hospital-based service.
Samantha Glynn who is living with diabetes and attends the Tuam clinic said, “I was diagnosed with diabetes eight years ago and have been struggling since day one, my doctor referred me to the hub and I received an appointment within weeks.”
“I was able to see the consultant, the nurse and the podiatrist at one visit which saved me a huge amount of time. The team have a good plan in place and have helped me bring my diabetes under control for the first time since I was diagnosed, which is exceptional.”
The service is delivered across three hubs:
- The West Galway and City Integrated Care Hub provides clinics in Newcastle, Moycullen, Carraroe, Clifden, Oughterard, Doughiska and Renmore.
- The East Galway Roscommon Integrated Care Hub, located in Ballinasloe, provides clinics in Athenry, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Tuam, Castlerea and Roscommon town.
- The Mayo Integrated Care Hub, located in Castlebar provides clinics in Achill, Ballinrobe, Belmullet, Castlebar, Claremorris, Swinford and Westport.
Being able to treat patients in community-based specialist centres leads to an overall reduction in hospital waiting lists and the diabetes service in particular has yielded very positive results across the region.
Galway University Hospitals reported an 83% reduction in relevant waiting lists between July 2023 and October 2024.
Between January and September this year over 10,000 appointments were carried out across the three hubs, where people living with diabetes were seen and treated by multidisciplinary teams including diabetic nurses, podiatrists and dieticians.
An additional 2,827 consultant-led appointments in diabetes care were carried out in the West Galway and City Integrated Care Hub and East Galway Roscommon Integrated Care Hub led by Dr Tomás Griffin and Dr Abdullah Abdullah.
Lead Consultant Diabetologist for the West Galway and City Integrated Care Hub, Tomás Griffin said, “This service places the person living with diabetes at the heart of care, empowering each person to manage their condition with confidence through timely, accessible support close to home.
“By reducing hospital wait times and offering direct access to a multidisciplinary team that includes, diabetes specialist nurses, an advanced nurse practitioner, podiatrists, a physiotherapy led exercise programme, and a dietitian – we work with individuals and their GPs to develop personalized care plans that foster improved health outcomes and greater self-management, all within a convenient, community-based setting.”
