In a major breakthrough for diabetes care in Ireland, as reported by the Medical Independent, the HSE has begun appointing a dedicated team to develop the country’s first national diabetes registry. This long-awaited initiative is set to transform how diabetes is managed, providing crucial data to improve patient outcomes and healthcare planning.

The creation of the registry had been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, but it remained a key priority. The Department of Health confirmed in August 2022 that work was ongoing, and now, funding has been allocated to establish a specialised team within the HSE. The team will include a part-time (0.5 WTE) clinical lead, a programme manager, a coordinator, an ICT specialist, and a data specialist.

Recruitment is progressing well. As of February, the clinical lead and coordinator had already taken up their roles, with the programme manager set to start in the second quarter of this year. Hiring is ongoing for the ICT and data specialist positions.

This registry represents a significant step forward for the diabetes community in Ireland, with key priorities including:

• Establishing a governance structure to ensure effective management.
• Engaging with existing data controllers to build a comprehensive registry.
• Accurately determining the national prevalence of diabetes.
• Providing reliable reports for policymakers, clinicians, and those living with diabetes.
• Enhancing patient care by benchmarking treatment against best-practice guidelines.

The Department of Health emphasised that the registry would bring lasting benefits, enabling more effective healthcare planning, improved services, and better support for those living with diabetes.

Diabetes is a complex condition requiring careful management across all levels of healthcare, from self-care to GP services, community specialists, and hospital care. Until now, the lack of a national registry has made it difficult to accurately measure diabetes prevalence in Ireland. The HSE acknowledges that this new system will be crucial in filling that gap.

This development is a significant achievement for Diabetes Ireland, which has long advocated for a national registry. In its pre-Budget 2025 submission, the organisation also called for the creation of a ten-year national diabetes strategy to further improve care and outcomes for people living with diabetes.

For the diabetes community in Ireland, this marks an exciting step towards better care, greater awareness, and more effective health planning. The future of diabetes management in Ireland is looking brighter than ever.