Ms Caroline Gourley:

Even the model for Sláintecare, to have the person in his or her own home, is not occurring. It is not patient-centred. Referring to Senator Black's comments about staff, the staff want person-centred care but they have to choose in the community who gets priority. I can guarantee that, because of the age profile and the demographics, it is not the older person in their own home that gets priority. We do not have the home supports and the staff do not like making that choice. They are not providing the service our residents and the people require, nor are they providing the ultimate service they themselves want to provide. Staff are leaving, but they are also going home at night-time worrying that somebody does not have a situation. They could have somebody with dementia at home. I had a case recently where a woman fell. She was the main carer for her husband who had dementia and her son who had special needs. She lay on the floor for two days because she would not go anywhere because nobody could mind her husband and her child. We eventually got a place for them and sorted out care for them. That is the ultimate of what is happening in the community. The staff are not able to take it on anymore. They are leaving in their droves, as Ms Ní Sheaghdha said.