James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Healy asked about a full assessment and he mentioned an issue concerning a three-hour assessment. As regards the full assessment, the focus was to be around those most dependent and who required personal care services. The idea was to maintain those, if necessary by reducing the lesser dependent people who may be just getting household duties, shopping and cleaning.

What was meant by a full assessment? That should have involved the care providers and the Health Service Executive to assess if the situation had changed. Home care packages, in particular, rotate all the time. The classic example is the 65 year old man who has his hip done and whose wife has some rheumatoid arthritis so is not able to help with lifting him when he is allowed home after his operation. Apart from needing a nurse and a physiotherapist, he will require a home help to assist him getting in and out of the shower. After several weeks the nurse would not be necessary any more. After several more weeks, phyiso would be done on an out-patient basis and then, after several more weeks, the home help would not be necessary either, meaning the whole home care package moves on.