James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I first raise the issue of home support services. In recent days older people in County Wexford received a letter stating if they did not wish to restart their home support service by 8 June 2020, their service will cease and they will be placed on the waiting list for home support services - in other words, use it or lose it by 8 June. Many elderly people are concerned and have contacted me about this. They have had to rearrange their home situation, often having to move into the home of a son or daughter because the normal care cannot look after them. This letter is totally inappropriate at this stage. It is basically telling older people they will have to move home and reuse this service or they will lose it. Based on the most recent figures, almost 900 people in Wexford are on the waiting list. Bizarrely in Carlow-Kilkenny there is nobody. The fear in Wexford of being put to the back of the list is very real.

I have a second question. I was contacted by a healthcare worker this morning. She was in contact with asymptomatic but Covid-positive patients. She has been waiting 14 days for her test results. I ask the Minister to comment on this and ensure healthcare workers are not waiting for 14 days for test results. She has been out of action for that length of time.

I have a final comment. There is now effectively cross-party support for the publication of the refreshed Vision for Change. Can that please be published?

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