Cormac Devlin
Question:199. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of the care commission for older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25897/21]
View answerWednesday, 23 June 2021
Questions (199)
Written answers
In June 2020, the Programme for Government, mindful of the particular impact of COVID-19 on older people, especially those who live on their own and people living in nursing homes, set out a commitment to establish a commission to examine care and supports for older people.
In August 2020, the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel, established by Minister Donnelly and I, on foot of a NPHET recommendation, published a comprehensive report following an examination of national and international learning and evidence and stakeholder engagement. The Panel provided immediate real-time learnings and recommendations in light of the expected ongoing impact of COVID-19 over the subsequent 12-18 months. The Panel makes a substantial package of recommendations which also reflect that systematic reform in the way nursing home care, and health and social care for older persons care more broadly, is delivered and financed. An interagency Implementation Oversight Team and a stakeholder reference group has been established to support the continued implementation of these recommendations.
While preliminary scoping work on the establishment of a commission to examine care and supports for older people has commenced, the ongoing priority focus in 2021 is ensuring the continued implementation of the recommendations of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel. Many of the short and medium term recommendations have already been implemented.
The significant examination undertaken by the Expert Panel provides important learning and a framework for enhancing older persons services both in the short and long-term and this work is progressing. The longer-term strategic reform recommendations of the Panel will transition into, as needed, specific multi-annual programmes of work with the necessary governance structures, with some of the recommendations, as appropriate, given continued examination in the context of a commission. It is currently envisaged that the scoping work for a such a commission will be significantly progressed this year in order that it may be established in 2022.