Finian McGrath
Question:837 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding has been made available for home care services; and if so, the way in which this funding can be accessed. [19917/03]
Written Answers. - Palliative Care Services.
I presume the Deputy is referring to palliative care as the term "home care" normally refers to palliative care services delivered in a person's home. Palliative care has only developed as a medical specialty in its own right since 1995. As the Deputy may be aware, the national advisory committee on palliative care produced its report in October 2001 and made a number of recommendations for the development of palliative care services over the next five to seven years. While no specific funding has been made available for home care services, my Department has allocated funding of €9.128 million in the past two years for the implementation of the advisory committee's recommendations. Provision for the development of home care services was included in this funding.
Development of palliative care services remains the responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards. My Department has requested information on home care services from the authority and the boards and the information received is as follows:
Eastern Regional Health Authority:There are a total of seven home care teams providing services across the Eastern Regional Health Authority area. Funding for St. Francis's Hospice in Raheny is provided by the Northern Area Health Board and the services provided by St. Francis's Hospice include the provision of home care services. Increased funding was provided in 2002 and 2003 for the further development of additional home care service in the Dublin 15 area. Home care services in the South-Western Health Board area are provided by Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross. Home care services are also provided in the Kildare-west Wicklow area by general nurses or public health nurses employed by the South Western Area Health Board. Home care services for the East Coast Area Health Board are provided from Blackrock Hospice which is managed by Our Lady's Hospice, Harold's Cross, and the public health nursing service in community care area 10 in Wicklow. Home care services may be accessed in a number of ways. Patients who are in-patients in a hospice or in an acute hospital may be referred to the home care service on discharge. GPs may also refer a patient directly to the home care service.
Midland Health Board:Home care services form an integral part of the Midland Health Board's palliative care service. The home care teams catered for 430 patients in 2001 with over 4,000 home visits and over 1,000 visits to hospital carried out. The service complements the in-patient service which is provided by the board in this area.
Mid-Western Health Board:Milford Hospice is the designated palliative care service provider for the Mid-Western Health Board area and it commenced its home care service for the region in June 1989. The home care service is funded by the Mid-Western Health Board through a service agreement and all the home care nurses are employed by Milford Hospice.
North-Eastern Health Board:The North Eastern Health Board is committed to developing a range of specialist palliative care services in it's functional area. The development of such services will be informed by the recommendations in a regional needs assessment study on palliative care services which has just been completed. Specialist home care services are also being developed across the board's area as resources permit. Palliative care services are being developed in the board's area through a consultative and partnership process with all service providers, both statutory and voluntary, who are represented on the regional palliative care development committee.
North-Western Health Board:The North Western Health Board has considered the development of home care services as a priority over the last number of years. A total of eleven home care nurses are employed in this service; seven are employed by North West Hospice, two are employed by Foyle Hospice, and two are employed by the board. The home care service delivered by the North West Hospice was extended from a five day to a seven day service in March of this year.
South-Eastern Health Board:Home care services in the South Eastern Health Board area provided through the voluntary sector and are part funded by the board. Access to home care is through referral by the patient's GP, through the consultant led palliative care service or through the public health nursing service.
Southern Health Board:Funding for the home care service in the Southern Health Board amounted to €253,946 in 2000, and €213,306 in 2002. The regional development committee for specialist palliative care makes recommendations to the chief executive officer of the board on how development funding for palliative care, including the home care services, should be used.
Western Health Board:Home care services are provided through a number of service providers in the Western Health Board area. Home care services for Galway are funded entirely by the Galway Hospice Foundation and these services complement the board's funding of in-patient and day care services in this county. In Mayo and Roscommon home care services are provided by the board in collaboration with the Mayo-Roscommon Hospice Foundation and the Irish Cancer Foundation.