Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The upgrading of the home help service over the past ten years has probably been the most significant development in health services in this country. Home help staff in the 21st century are highly trained, dedicated and proficient in delivering excellent quality of care and assistance to thousands of vulnerable people who wish to live in their homes, their own environment and in the local community. As regards value for money, the cost and benefit ratio is not matched in any other sector in the delivery of health services in this country. Recent developments highlight the expanding role they play into the future, with fewer patients in hospitals, shorter hospital stays and the increasing focus on community care.

The total health spend for this year is in the region of €13 billion. The recent decision to reduce funding to the home health service by €8 million for the last quarter of 2012 equates to a loss of approximately 450,000 hours. This is devastating, on top of the half a million hours cut when the HSE service plan was announced. Compared to the €13 billion, this is nitpicking.

This dramatic reduction is an indictment of the reckless policy of the HSE and the Department of Health of targeting the most vulnerable in our society and causing undue hardship and stress to people. I am sure all public representatives are aware of people whose home help service has been totally discontinued, causing them considerable unease, unrest and inconvenience.

Hundreds of people have had their hours seriously cut. Some people report that their hours have been so reduced that their home help can only rush in, stay for 20 minutes and rush out again. These people are now worried that they may lose their home help altogether.

The reduction in home care packages is also causing serious problems.

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