Senator calls for 'full debate' over supports for home care patients
Senator Fiona O'Loughlin was speaking in the Seanad recently
A Fianna Fáil senator has called for a “full debate” with the Minister for Health over alternative supports for home care patients in Kildare.
Senator Fiona O'Loughlin was speaking in the Seanad recently.
According to the senator, the HSE is now restricting home care approval to critical, urgent cases and palliative, end-of-life care.
The HSE, she stated, has also capped home care hours at 14 hours per week.
Senator O'Loughlin told the Seanad: “I spoke only yesterday about the income disregard for carers rising, which is significant.
“I was really saddened and annoyed to see this morning an article in the Irish Independent that Kfm covered. It brought to my attention serious concerns for home care patients in Kildare.
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“Apparently, an internal HSE circular is now restricting home care approval to only critical, urgent cases and palliative, end-of-life care. Patients in high need will be turned away and those in moderate need have very little chance of any approval this year, hitting hardest those who rely on home care for basic nursing supports like medication administration.
“Apparently, the HSE has also capped home care hours at 14 hours a week. These are the most vulnerable people in society who have all too often been forgotten.”
Senator O'Loughlin said home care patients in Kildare deserve to be cared for in their own homes “with dignity.”
She called for a “full debate” with the Minister for Health to see what alternative supports can be put in place.