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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Questions (927)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

927. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his Department in conjunction with the Health Service Executive can ensure that family carers receive appropriate quantities of personal protective equipment, PPE; and if he will consider introducing a subvention scheme to alleviate the cost burden associated with the purchasing of same. [10019/21]

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Written answers

The HSE currently supplies PPE to Acute Hospitals, the National Ambulance Service, Long Term Residential Settings, Public Home Care, Primary Care-based clinics, Testing Centres, Community Assessment Hubs, Public Dentists, and GP/ Out of Hours Practices, in the interests of both staff and patient safety in both preventative and therapeutic usage settings through the PPE supply chain established at local level.

At this time, the provision of PPE to family carers has not been indicated by Public Health or the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and therefore the HSE has no plans to introduce a subvention scheme.  The HSE acknowledges the valuable role of carers and families, home support workers and providers across the services in supporting older people and their care groups throughout this challenging period’.

Relevant HPSC Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for family and friends (informal carers) who support people in their own homes is available at; https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/visitorsvisiting/

 Family carers should operate in support bubbles and there is guidance in this regard on the Government website here; https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3516d-support-bubbles/

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