Written answers

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Department of Health

Care of the Elderly Provision

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

598. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider establishing a forum on long-term residential care bringing all of the relevant stake holders involved in the provision of such care for older persons together, in view of the fact that the voluntary and private sector deliver almost 80% of the elderly residential care beds, as it is important in the interest of our elderly citizens and the taxpayer that there should be a proper forum between the Department and the providers in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50283/13]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Ministerial colleagues and I, as well as Departmental officials, are always amenable to meeting with providers of residential care services, whether private, voluntary or public, and the representatives of providers in this area will always be facilitated to meet both my Department and the HSE. There are already advance consultations held across a range of issues. I will be glad to hear the position of the sector on future planning, and these views will be carefully considered and taken account of.

However, if I understand it correctly, what is being proposed here is a form of joint decision making on future arrangements, which might well include pricing, regulatory and perhaps even budgetary matters. That is a more problematic proposal given that providers have a very clear vested and commercial interest in decisions that may be made. While those interests are entirely legitimate, the Deputy will understand the need to maintain the independence and impartiality of the decision-making process, and a Forum of the type proposed is not therefore something that would be appropriate. However, as I have already stated above, my door and the doors of my Department are always open, and I will be happy for my officials to sit down with representatives of the sector to discuss structured consultation arrangements on a range of issues that are of common concern.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.