Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Naughten for raising these cases as well as for giving me the opportunity to outline the position on the provision of home care packages for people with disabilities being discharged from acute hospital settings. I can assure the Deputy of the Government's commitment to providing services and supports to people with disabilities that will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, as well as enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in A Programme for a Partnership Government. It is guided by two principles, namely, equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

In 2020, more than €2 billion will be allocated to the HSE's disability service programme, an increase of 7%. This will fund the provision of a wide and complex range of services and supports to people with disabilities, including the provision of home support packages.

The HSE funds the National Rehabilitation Hospital in the region of €29 million annually under section 38 of the Health Act 2004. Services are provided through a service agreement that is reviewed annually. There are 242 patients awaiting admission to the National Rehabilitation Hospital inpatient services across its brain injury, spinal cord injury, prosthetic-amputee and paediatric programmes. Approximately 90% of referrals are generated in an acute hospital setting. There are also several delayed transfer of care patients in the spinal programme and in the brain injury programme.

Personal assistant and home support services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers to support individuals with a disability to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives. In 2019, the HSE will deliver 17.9 million home support hours to 53,000 people, along with intensive home care packages delivered to approximately 235 people, which comes to 360,000 hours delivered in the full year. Services are accessed through an application process or through referrals from public health nurses or other community-based staff. Resource allocation is determined by the needs of the individual, compliance with prioritisation criteria and the level of resources available.

As with every service, there is not a limitless resource available for the provision of home support services. While the resources available are substantial, they are finite. The number of hours granted is determined by other support services already provided to the person or family. While the majority of people in receipt of home care packages are aged 65 years or over, approximately 85%, a small portion of the target hours are delivered to people with disabilities that may include those suffering the effects of acquired brain injury.

In addition, in 2020 the HSE will be providing new and additional resources in terms of providing intensive in-home transitional support packages as a positive measure to support people with disabilities. Details of this measure will form part of the national service plan to be agreed for 2020. On the particular cases the Deputy raised, I will engage with the HSE and CHO 2 as well.

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