Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 March 2024
318. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has carried out an audit of the assistive technology that is now available to support care in the home; if he has assessed the feasibility in each case of supporting their use to better manage care in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13526/24]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provide an extensive range of aids and appliances to individuals living with a wide variety of different medical conditions. These support individuals to continue living within their communities and to enjoy a greater quality of life than would otherwise be the case. The Community Funded Schemes is the collective name for the provision of these products and services.
The overall ambition of the Community Funded Schemes is to utilise technology to its fullest extent to support people living in their communities and in their homes where they may require healthcare assistance.
The HSE established a National Service Improvement Programme for the Community Funded Schemes. This Programme has been working on the development of standard operating procedures and guidelines with the aim of ensuring value for money, equity of access, and a management system that ensures compliance with those guidelines. The scale of this Programme is enormous given that many thousands of items are provided from community-based services across the country.
The Programme has produced a national list of aids and appliances and associated prescribing criteria. This is available at:
www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/primarycare/community-funded-schemes/aids-and-appliances/.
This should improve the equity of access to appropriate aids and appliances, following assessment, for all eligible persons, including those requiring care in their homes.
My Department will continue to examine both the expenditure and activity under the Community Funded Schemes.
