Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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739. To ask the Minister for Health the progress his Department has made to date in responding to the issues raised in the Wasted Lives report published by the Ombudsman in May 2021, regarding the recommendation to move hundreds of younger persons living in inappropriate nursing home settings into a rehabilitation pathway towards independent living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6518/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Ombudsman’s Report ‘Wasted Lives’ looks at the appropriateness of the placement of people under 65 in nursing homes.

We know that nursing homes are an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement which cannot be supported in the person’s home. However, for some people under the age of 65 years, nursing homes are not an appropriate placement and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions, are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.

According to the HSE there is a cohort of approximately 1,330 people under 65 years of age living in nursing homes, 45% of whom are aged 60+ and 20% less than 50 years. For many a nursing home may be the appropriate setting based on their clinical and support needs. However, the HSE acknowledges that this must be the subject of a care and case management approach that facilitates structured reviews and where the will and preference of the individual is of paramount importance.

There is a clear Government commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes.

Additional funding was provided for disability services in 2021 and again for this year in Budget 2022. A range of services are being supported that can facilitate young people with serious disabilities live fuller, more independent lives. Measures to prevent young persons from entering nursing homes continue to be supported through a range of services including respite, home support and personal assistance services.

The HSE National Service Plan (NSP) 2021 provided for an investment of €3m to enable 18 people under the age of 65 years to move from nursing homes. To end 2021, 14 of the 18 had been moved, with a further four individuals to move early 2022. Budget 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5m to address the situation of people with disabilities who may be inappropriately placed in nursing homes. The NSP 2022, which is being finalised, will provide further details.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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740. To ask the Minister for Health if he, his Department and the HSE will engage with an organisation (details supplied) to address the issues and concerns raised in the Wasted Lives report published by Ombudsman in May 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6519/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Ombudsman’s Report ‘Wasted Lives’ looks at the appropriateness of the placement of people under 65 in nursing homes.

We know that nursing homes are an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement which cannot be supported in the person’s home. However, for some people under the age of 65 nursing homes are not an appropriate placement and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.

There is a clear Government commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes. In addition to supporting a specific programme of transition for certain young people inappropriately placed in nursing homes to more appropriate housing options in the community, Government is increasing support to a range of services that can facilitate young people with serious disabilities live fuller, more independent lives.

In 2021 the Government provided an additional €100m to enhance disability services. Budget 2022 provides for an additional package of €105m for disability services.

The organisation concerned contacted the Department of Health about its work and the Ombudsman’s Report. The organisation is known to the HSE and works closely with disability services in each HSE CHO area, including on the development of bespoke plans and budgets in response to local need.

As the delivery of residential places is a matter for the HSE, the organisation was advised to contact the HSE, and a contact point was provided to it for follow-on engagement as appropriate.