{"id":24423,"date":"2021-12-15T10:17:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T15:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24423"},"modified":"2021-12-15T12:20:46","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T17:20:46","slug":"dail-hears-of-crisis-in-home-care-with-5000-on-waiting-lists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24423","title":{"rendered":"D\u00e1il Hears Of Crisis In Home Care With 5,000 On Waiting Lists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane told the D\u00e1il a new report by the HIQA has highlighted key areas where home care services are \u2018falling down\u2019 (PA Archive\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There is a \u201ccrisis\u201d in home care services with no statutory regulations in place and almost 5,000 people waiting for access to services, the D\u00e1il has heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane said a new report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has highlighted key areas where home care services are \u201cfalling down\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking during Leader\u2019s Questions on Wednesday, Ms Kerrane said it is \u201cfrightening\u201d that there is no minimum standard of care in the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath, she said: \u201cMinister, there is a crisis in home care services in this state, a crisis which your Government refuses to acknowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe level to which older and vulnerable people are being failed has been exposed by a report by HIQA, which was published last night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe report makes for very concerning reading, and it calls for a complete overhaul of home care services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has highlighted several key areas where the home care scheme is falling down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWaiting lists are sky high, and we know that almost 5,000 people are waiting for access to home care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey have been approved, but they are waiting. These are 5,000 vulnerable people who are waiting for a carer to be assigned to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is absolutely unacceptable. It causes massive stress and worry, not only for the person, but for their families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She went on: \u201cThe HIQA report also underlines the urgent need for regulation of home care services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA recent PQ response I received from the Department of Health confirmed that the Government still has not established or developed a plan to regulate home support services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMinister, people will be listening in disbelief today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey will find it incredible that there is no state oversight of home care services on which so many of our older and most vulnerable people depend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn 2021, there is no minimum standard of care when it comes to home care services. That is absolutely frightening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr McGrath responded by saying that new regulations are currently being worked on by the Minister for Older People, Mary Butler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cMinister Butler is working on the legislation in relation to the important issue of oversight, and is examining the HIQA report that you have referred to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe minister will engage directly with HIQA in relation to that and will not fall short in taking the necessary steps to ensure that there is a proper system of regulation, and indeed that standards are upheld at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr McGrath said that, despite the challenges, the number of home care hours provided has increased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cI think it is important to point out the level of additional funding that has been secured by Minister Butler, additional funding of 150 million euro for home support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis year\u2019s HSE National Service Plan sets a target to provide 24 million home support hours, which is 5 million more hours than was provided for last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is estimated that, at the end of October this year, some 17 million hours had been provided to about 54,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is about two-and-a-half million more hours compared to the same period last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo notwithstanding the undoubted challenges that are there, in relation to recruiting home carers and people to provide this vital service, there has been a very significant increase in the level of service and indeed the number of hours that has been provided this year relative to last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe funding secured in Budget 2021 to provide these additional five million hours has again been maintained for 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n

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