Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 March 2022
192. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he intends to put in place a process in which HSE inspectors pay visits to houses in receipt of homecare packages to ensure that the services provided by the HSE and private homecare companies are up to standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13210/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government agreed in 2020 commits the government to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care’.
Consequently, work is on-going within the Department of Health to progress the development of the new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. Taking place within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms, this work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery.
In relation to the regulatory framework, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for homecare and support providers in April 2021. The framework will comprise: (i) primary legislation for the licensing of public and private home-support providers; (ii) minimum requirements (i.e., regulations); and (iii) HIQA National Standards for Home Support Services. Development of regulations and quality standards are at an advanced level and public consultation on both is planned for Q2 2022. They are underpinned by four key principles – a human rights-based approach, safety and wellbeing, responsiveness, and accountability – all working together to achieve person-centred care and support.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the statutory body established under the Health Act 2007 to drive high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. It is envisaged that the HIQA Chief Inspector will be responsible for licencing and inspection of the provision of homecare and support services to ensure that governance, management, service delivery, and staff training are in accordance with regulatory requirements and quality standards. The focus of the inspection is on the registered provider and it is not envisaged that this will involve home visits. HIQA may have some discretionary powers regarding examination of individual complaints.
The importance of integrated care pathways, communication and coordination of care between services to enable people to get the right care, at the right time and in the right place is fundamental to Sláintecare. As a commissioner and provider of homecare and support services, the Health Service Executive will have its own quality assurance processes in place. Regulations together with national standards and service provider policies and procedures will provide a system-wide quality approach to addressing homecare and support in Ireland. As a result of this process, people using homecare and support services will better understand what high-quality, safe services should be and what they should expect from a well-run service.
It is important to emphasise that the regulatory framework of the scheme is still in the development stage, meaning that the provisions outlined above may change.
