Results 2,721-2,740 of 8,649 for speaker:Seán Crowe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: I apologise to the Home Care Coalition. I overlooked the opening statement of Ms Catherine Cox. Perhaps Ms Cox would like to make her statement now, after which we can return to questions. My apologies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: I thank Ms Cox.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: Those are reasonable requests of the committee. I have no doubt members will not disagree. We can discuss the matter in private session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: I invite our guests from Age Action to contribute on that issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: The Deputy is over time. I am stuck for time this morning, given the number of groups that are represented. My apologies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: They are all nodding their heads. That is a "Yes".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: That is something practical that the committee can follow through on. Maybe we will forward the point to the social protection committee and raise it with the Minister also. Therefore, there will be some action from today's meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: It is more of a statement. Some of the opening statements this morning also mentioned that the HSE, which is the main funding agency, was recruiting staff and how unfair the system is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: To follow up on the issue of staff retention, people clearly feel a lack of self-worth with regard to the work they are doing. On the Covid payments, what is the attitude of members of the various organisations here to the fact they were not included in the Covid recognition payment? Does that play into the lack of self-worth many of those members may feel? We are all aware people were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: The committee could possibly follow that up with the relevant Minister. One significant issue for many families is the assessment of home care support needs. We have not really touched on it this morning. It is a big issue. Families often come to us and ask how it works out. Perhaps their loved one only needs an hour or half an hour of home care. One complaint in previous years was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: That is a recommendation that goes back to 2018. To elaborate on what Ms McAvinue said, 48% of spousal care involves people caring for their loved ones during every waking moment. Some 54% struggle with mental health and 40% have physical health issues. That has a significant impact on individuals. Does anyone want to elaborate on the matter of hours?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: We agreed on a number of actions today. The most important thing is for the committee to thank the witnesses and their organisations for the fantastic work they and their members do. We appreciate it. This morning's meeting was informative. It is hoped that some of the actions that come out of it will help members of the witnesses' organisations and, more importantly, those who are badly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: In this session of the meeting, the committee will engage with union representatives. I formally welcome the second group of witnesses to the meeting. I welcome from SIPTU, Mr. Damian Ginley, sector organiser of SIPTU health division, and Ms Aideen Carberry, assistant industrial organiser of SIPTU health division; and from Fórsa, Mr. Éamonn Donnelly, head of health and welfare...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: I invite Mr. Ginley to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: I will move straight to questions. Senator Kyne is first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: The next speaker is Deputy Shortall.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: I need to move on. Deputy Gino Kenny is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: I thank Deputy Kenny.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: The point is that families come to home support service providers. Politicians make that point all the time. We heard earlier in the witnesses' submission how people are suffering from burnout. In the case of spousal care, people are looking after their loved ones day and night. It was mentioned that people go out to the post office or to the shops to get some headspace if the hours are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Home Care: Discussion (9 Feb 2022)

Seán Crowe: In different CHOs or HSE areas, there seem to be different approaches to the issue. That must create a lot of tension. Staff talk to each other and discuss what is happening in one area that is not happening in another. That creates all sorts of problems within the system itself. It seems to be a crazy system. One can understand that the Minister was under pressure to announce the...