Home help shortages in Laois-Offaly
Deputy Stanley says many approved home help applicants in Laois-Offaly are waiting months, causing delayed discharges and forcing costly respite arrangements. The Minister acknowledges the difficulties, says patching individual cases is unsustainable, and repeats his commitment to a new home care scheme by 2021.
I call Deputy Stanley who I know will comply with the requirement to ask a question.
Comment on this
I refer to the commitment in the programme for Government on home help care, with specific reference to the issues emerging in Laois-Offaly. Some people there cannot get home help care and that is delaying hospital discharges. Over 500 people have been approved for home help hours, but they remain wait listed, sometimes for up to seven or eight months. Some of those who are receiving a service get only half an hour two or three times a week when it is clear that they need more support than that to remain in their homes. A major issue has emerged in the past few months in relation to holiday cover. Three separate cases were raised with my constituency office this morning. When the regular home help provider goes on holiday, no cover is provided. I am referring here to people with high-dependency care needs.
Comment on this
One case involves an 86 year old woman who has an hour twice a day, seven days a week, which is fine. However, next week and the week after, she will have no care. The reply I received yesterday was that in exceptional circumstances where cover is not available, respite care may be offered.
Comment on this
Respite care is more expensive. The reason I convey this to the Minister of State is that-----
Comment on this
-----if a home help service was in place, it could be done cheaper over the holiday cover period.
Comment on this
I know it is a challenge but it is a cheaper way of doing it. Respite care is more expensive.
Comment on this
I appreciate what the Deputy says and the frustration he and other Deputies feel. I have an issue with the tone of some of the responses that go out from the HSE to individuals. I accept what the Deputy says. There are too many difficulties with the current system. If I adopt a patchwork approach to fixing cases for individuals, however, it will take ten years. That is why we want to develop an entirely new, fit-for-purpose home care scheme. I have committed to doing so by 2021. I have put a lot of work into it.
That is our only way out of this mismatch and patchwork service that is in place. I have put my hands up and acknowledged the flaws that are in the system. I will not try to talk my way out of it.