Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for granting me the opportunity to speak on this Adjournment debate. The announcement of the closure of respite beds in Cherry Orchard Hospital caused consternation and huge distress to patients, who felt there was no available alternative, and to their families.

I welcome the news I received today from the HSE that respite beds are being provided. However, these beds are being provided in a private facility. In its statement, the HSE indicates that this is more cost effective, but I question that. How can it be more cost effective to have such a facility in a private rather than a public unit. The HSE refers to the maintenance of staff and paying staff overtime over the summer.

My real concerns are that this may be the tip of the iceberg and what will happen in the autumn. We have been told that these places will be brought back to Cherry Orchard in October, and I hope that is the case. The HSE also states the alternative provision is in the locality. It is not clear what locality means. No further information has been given on this point. I sincerely hope the alternative will be easily accessible. The people concerned are likely to be elderly and have elderly relatives. It is important to them that their families are able to visit them. Many of them do not have cars and are dependent on public transport. If the alternative service is not in an area where there is good public transport and within a reasonable distance it will be extremely difficult for them. This aspect must be considered. By providing these beds in a private unit, are we chipping away at the system? What will happen in the autumn? Have we a guarantee that the places will be restored in the autumn?

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Andrews, for taking this debate. However, I am disappointed that the Minister for Health and Children is not present because this matter affects many families in her constituency. Many of the families who use this service live in Clondalkin and Palmerstown, which is in our constituency of Dublin Mid-West.

Cherry Orchard is very close to these families and many of them have become used to the service provided there. I spoke to families who use the roll-over respite care beds. This means they use the service every second week. Given the way in which beds are available to patients for different parts of the week, which itself is welcome, the many families that get to use the service will be affected. They have become used to the service, but they themselves provide the HSE with a good service because they perform all caring tasks for patients when the latter are not in Cherry Orchard Hospital.

As Deputy Upton stated, the new arrangements proposed for the summer months will cause the families much hardship, as many of them are not well off and might not have access to cars, nor might there be public transport to the private nursing homes that are proposed to be used instead. Like Deputy Upton, I question whether the proposal is more cost effective than employing extra staff to keep the unit open, which would allow the families to continue using the service during the summer months.

There is no similar proposal in respect of long-stay patients. Indeed, most people would view closing a hospital for the summer months and moving long-stay patients absurd. If it is not acceptable for long-stay patients, it is not acceptable for patients who use this respite care service. They make the HSE a significant saving by not handing their relatives into its care on a long-stay basis. They care for their relatives 24 hours per day every other day of the week for most of the year. When compared with the hardship caused to families who should be protected from such, cost effectiveness does not make sense.

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will be taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputies for raising it, as I am provided with an opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to services for older people generally and, in particular, to the important area of developing day and respite care. Government policy in respect of older people is to support people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to quality long-term residential care where appropriate. This policy approach is renewed and developed in the latest partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

The Government's objective of continued development of community-based services for older people is reflected in the funding given to the system in recent times. Since 2006, just over €500 million additional funding has been invested in long-term care supports for older people. This includes the largest ever investment, in excess of €200 million, specifically to develop community care services. These measures have been designed to enhance services already put in place by the Government and to widen the range of services available to older people. In this context, more than €16 million has been provided in the past three years for new day and respite care services. An extra €1.1 million in 2008 allowed for 345 new places, bringing the total provision to approximately 21,500 places.

The HSE has committed through the National Service Plan 2009 to delivering services within its Vote provided by the Oireachtas. It will manage the provision of respite care beds at Cherry Orchard Hospital within this context, taking account of the priority the Government and the HSE have given to services for older people. Cherry Orchard Hospital has a complement of 262 places, comprising 192 for elderly care, 35 for young chronic sick and 17 for persons with HIV or AIDS.

The summer is the peak leave period for hospital staff. When this is combined with a significant number of staff absent on parental leave, it is difficult to maintain the full range of services throughout the summer. Cherry Orchard Hospital is making arrangements to ensure that all commitments to those availing of these services and their families are maintained during the coming months. Measures have been taken to ensure that all commitments for respite care are met to ensure that no one receiving respite care or their family is left without a service.

The HSE is conscious of the importance of the respite facility of Cherry Orchard Hospital. The latter is identifying suitable private providers that will be in a position to provide respite places to overcome the challenges faced over the annual leave period. The balance of the respite service will continue to be provided in the hospital.