Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Depending on the level of acuity, it may take some time to put a package together. It may be necessary to get two or three home helps into a house. The package must be put together. One cannot just flick a switch and make a home help package available at short notice. Obviously, there are also funding implications. There are many other issues which affect delayed discharges, such as clinical decisions not being made in a timely manner. The fair deal scheme is a big contributor to delayed discharges. Often, people are not in a hurry to bring a person home from hospital because adaptation work needs to be done. There are many reasons for delayed discharges, one of which relates to home help.

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