Written answers

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Department of Health

Care of the Elderly

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health when he will bring forward legislation to set standards for the provision of home care for elderly people by private commercial companies in receipt of funding from the Health Service Executive; if he has plans to have the sector inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority; if she intends to allow a complaint/investigation procedure to be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40364/12]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Government for National Recovery, 2011-2016 commits the Government to developing and implementing national standards for home support services, which will be subject to inspection by the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA). All relevant implications arising from this proposal will obviously have to be taken into account including, for example, a recent report by the Law Reform Commission entitled Legal Aspects of Professional Home Care, which in itself is a follow up to its 2009 consultation paper Legal Aspects of Carers.


Primary legislation and resources will be required for the introduction of a statutory regulation system for home care services. The question of possible changes to legislation, including regulation, inspection and complaints procedures for Home Care services for older people is at present under consideration. The Department is examining this matter in the overall context of the licensing of Health Care providers. Legislation is currently being prepared and various options are being considered, including the complex legal issues involved, and the need to prioritise legislation across the Social Care area overall.


It should be noted that statutory regulation or licensing is only one way of improving the safety and quality of services and that other measures have or are being taken to improve Home Support services delivered by, or on behalf of, the Health Service Executive (HSE). This approach is reflected in the HSE Service Plan 2012, and includes a new public Procurement Framework for Home Care services (with quality and screening requirements); new National Quality Guidelines for Home Support Services, and new National Home Help Guidelines. These various measures, taken together, have been designed to improve relevant aspects of HSE Home Care provision nationally, pending progression of the legislative proposals raised by the Deputy.

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