Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 106 together.

The programme for national recovery 2011-16 commits to developing and implementing national standards for home support services, which will be subject to inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority. Primary legislation and resources will be required for the introduction of a statutory regulation system for home care services. This is being considered in the wider context of the licensing of public and private health service providers. I would like to emphasise, however, that there are effective measures that can be applied pending statutory regulation, and the HSE already applies a high level of quality control and supervision to the services provided by external providers with HSE funding.

The HSE's procurement framework for home care services includes quality and screening requirements. Providers of home care services are monitored through service level agreements with the HSE. They are required to provide a prescribed range of information in regard to the services they provide, and are supervised through regular local operational meetings and reviews of clients' care plans. The following areas are included in this context: principles of service delivery; confidentiality; a complaints procedure; consent; staff training; governance and management; and workforce related matters. The purpose of these measures is to promote quality and safety and to ensure a more standardised approach to service provision nationally. Audits are completed and quarterly reports are requested and reviewed. Supporting this is the ongoing monitoring and review of individual clients and their care by HSE professionals, such as public health nurses.

Home care services are reviewed regularly by the HSE. In addition, the HSE has in place a complaints procedure that is available to all service users. I would like to assure the Deputies that complaints are monitored as an indicator of quality of care provided and to ensure the clients' needs continue to be supported.

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