Written answers

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Department of Health

Home Help Service Provision

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

106. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the waiting times for the provision of home help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50829/18]

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

125. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the discrepancies between the number of persons waiting for home care packages in different counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50868/18]

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

130. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he plans to take to address the estimated deficit of 1.5 million hours in the provision of home care packages in 2018 and 2019 detailed in a report (details supplied). [50869/18]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

250. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which the number of home care packages can be increased in line with the demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51217/18]

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 125, 130 and 250 together.

As a Government, we have made improved access to home support services a key priority. Progress in this area is reflected in the additional funding made available in recent years with the home support budget growing from a base of €306 million in 2015 with expected expenditure of almost €420 million in 2018. Overall, the 2018 HSE National Service Plan provides for over 17 million home support hours to be delivered to 50,500 people at any time. In addition, a further 156,000 hours, relating to adverse weather funding, were provided from Spring 2018. Intensive Home Care Packages will be delivered to approximately 235 people at any time and will deliver approximately a further 360,000 hours in the full year. Despite this significant level of service provision, the demand for home support continues to grow. It is important to note that the allocation of funding for home supports across the system, though significant, is finite and services must therefore be delivered within the funding available.

In that context, we are keenly aware and acknowledge that in some cases access to the service may take longer than we would like. People who are on the waiting list for Home Support Services are reviewed, as funding becomes available, to ensure that individual cases continue to be dealt with on a priority basis within the available resources. Priority is determined by local front line staff who know and understand the clients’ needs, and who undertake regular reviews of those care needs to ensure that the services being provided remain appropriate. Waiting times will vary as some clients are dealt with as a priority depending on individual circumstances, risk assessment and urgency of services required, along with availability of capacity at any given time.

Following the recent Budget announcement, the HSE and officials from the Department of Health are in the process of developing and agreeing the HSE National Service Plan 2019, which will set out, in detail, the type and quantum of services to be delivered in 2019 including in relation to services for older people.While the existing home-care service is delivering crucial support to many people across the country, it needs to be improved to better meet the changing needs of our citizens. The Programme for a Partnership Government signals the Government’s intention to improve home care services and to introduce a uniform home-care service. At present the Department is engaged in a detailed process to develop plans for a new statutory scheme and system of regulation for home support services. The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy sets a target of 2021 for introduction of the new statutory scheme.

The new scheme will introduce clear rules in relation to the services for which individuals are eligible and in relation to how decisions are made on allocating services. For that reason, developing a new statutory scheme will be an important step in ensuring that the system operates in a consistent and fair manner for all those who need home support services. It will also help to improve access to the home support services that people need in an affordable and sustainable way. The system of regulation for home support will help to ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard.

While the new home support scheme is under development, the Department and HSE are continuing efforts to incrementally improve the existing home support services. The HSE has begun streamlining home care services by introducing a single funded home support service in 2018. This brings together the funding for home help and standard home care packages which now operates as a single home support service from 2018 onwards. This new approach is providing significant benefits including making the services easier to understand; streamlining the application and decision-making processes; and facilitating service users to move to changed levels of service as their assessed needs change, without the need for an additional application process.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.