Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the expenditure on the hospital in the home scheme; the number of patients treated under this scheme; the estimated saving to the Exchequer of such a plan rather than being treated in residential care or in acute care hospitals; if the scheme will be continued for 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter including the future role of care in the community in this format. [29274/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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One of the key challenges facing the health service is the need to ensure that services are planned and provided in line with the clinical needs of the patient. A number of experimental initiatives have been put in place by the Health Service Executive with a view to providing care in community based rather than hospital based settings where clinically appropriate. The "Hospital in the Home" service is one such initiative along with the introduction of Primary Care Teams, Community Intervention Teams, a Rapid Access Service for the Elderly and the GP Out of Hours service.

The "Hospital in the Home" service was delivered by a private service provider on the basis of a service level agreement with the HSE and was for a period of one year. This agreement came to an end on 16th March and was extended by agreement until 11th May 2008. During the year, the service treated in the region of 2,000 patients at an annual cost of €6.83 million.

A review of the service was carried out between January and March of this year under an independent Chairperson. The review made a number of recommendations. The main recommendation, which has been adopted by the HSE, is that the concept of the "Hospital in the Home" be retained and that the service should be repatriated within existing HSE services.

The HSE has emphasised that no patient was disadvantaged by this decision and has advised that patients who had been receiving services from the provider in question when the contract ceased have had their episode of care continued until it was scheduled to finish. These patients have since been referred back to their primary physician for management of any future care needs.

The HSE is developing the range of services provided by the Community Intervention Teams in the Greater Dublin Area and extending their coverage with a view to meeting the needs of patients previously treated by the "Hospital in the Home" service.

My Department has asked the Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on the operational issues raised.