Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Page 83 of the programme for Government deals with delivering home care supports. I refer to the case of Hannah Donnelly from Drogheda who was admitted to Temple Street hospital in March 2017 for much needed surgery. She has Apert syndrome. Complications arose, as a result of which she has been in hospital for two and a half years. Medical advice given in March 2018 stated the best place for Hannah was at home. The family set about fundraising in the community. They remodelled their home and purchased a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

A business case for 24-7 home care supports was submitted for approval because Hannah's medical case is complex. Recently the family was offered four hours a week transitional care. That is an absolute insult.

Hannah is 18 years old. She is desperate to get home. She has a ten-year old sister at home. She deserves as near as possible quality of life at home. The only thing preventing Hannah going home is the HSE's refusal to fund her home care package. Will the Minister please step in and instruct the HSE to fund that package so that this 18-year old girl, whose picture I am holding up for the Minister to see, can go home to her family? There is a massive campaign locally to get Hannah home for Christmas. Will he please intervene? This is not right and it is not even humane at this stage. The Minister has the power to intervene. I beg him to do it. It costs more, as he knows, to keep Hannah in hospital than it ever would to fund her home care support package. I beg the Minister, please.

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