Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Health

Health Services Provision

Photo of Cathal CroweCathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1925. To ask the Minister for Health when normal services of an organisation (details supplied) such as day centres will resume. [19305/21]

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted service provision in all areas of the health service, including disability services. Here is the current situation with regard to day, respite, personal assistance and home support services.

All day service locations with the exception of those being utilised as COVID-19 isolation or testing centres have reopened since August. Service users that usually received their supports from these locations are now either receiving supports at another location or receiving outreach or home-based supports.

Day services re-opened at 39% capacity at service locations throughout August and early September of 2020, and by end of January 2021 this had increased to 51%. The combination of supports in the location, outreach supports, and remote supports provides an overall quantum of support to service users of over 60% at the end of January. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency day service capacity is reduced, this is due to the physical limitations of the buildings available, the lack of mainstream community activities, and the continued restrictions imposed by social distancing guidance. Many people with disabilities have underlying health conditions, and as the threat of COVID-19 remains, unfortunately so too does the need for these restrictions.

Guidance published by the HSE on 6 January 2021 confirms that day services continue to be prioritised and delivered subject to a revised Risk Assessment, Public Health Guidance and direction. People with complex medical/ clinical related needs are to remain at home and where possible, to receive the same number of hours support in the home as they had been in receipt of pre-Christmas in day service locations. Providers have been asked to reduce contacts via hubs/bubbles, with dedicated staff for dedicated service users, where possible. Where families are uncomfortable with allowing their family member to return to a day service location, a package of support within available resources will be agreed with the service user and family.

Additional funding of €30 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for day services to increase capacity in buildings and provide extra staff. This will provide an increase in day services by an average of one day a week for 14,940 people against September 2020 service levels.

The delivery of Respite Services continued to operate during the pandemic, albeit at a reduced capacity; some centres remained open, while others were temporarily re-purposed as isolation facilities.

At present, centre-based respite facilities are generally providing services at 40 to 60 percent occupancy levels due to necessary precautions to maintain physical distancing and to adhere to infection prevention and control requirements. The majority of centres are open on a reduced capacity basis due to physical distancing requirements. In a very small number of cases, certain centres remain closed or continue to be used for isolation purposes, subject to the prevailing local incidence of infection.

The use of targeted 1:1 Home Support Hours are being offered in lieu of respite in certain circumstances, subject to appropriate risk assessment and in line with prevailing Infection, Prevention and Control guidelines.

The number of people in receipt of PA and Home Support services remained steady throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of PA hours exceeded the 2020 National Service Plan target by 6.7%, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly because of additional PA hours being provided in lieu of other services. Home Support Services were 4.6% below target at year end, mainly due to the complexity involved in the provision of services due to COVID-19.

In order to support Personal Assistants (PAs) during the pandemic, the HSE Disability Operations Quality Improvement Office developed infection, prevention and control bespoke guidance for PAs. This was developed in collaboration with Leaders, Personal Assistants and Service Providers and was agreed with the Health Surveillance Protection Centre (HSPC) and was published on the HSE’s website.

The HSE’s priority is to continue to deliver high quality PA and Home Support Services to 10,000 people with disabilities including 1.71 million PA hours and over 3 million Home Support Hours. This includes the allocation of an additional 40,000 PA hours under Budget 2021.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly with respect to the specific service provider mentioned, as soon as possible.

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