Limerick East): As the Deputy will be aware, section 61 of the Health Act, 1970, enables health boards to make arrangements to assist in the maintenance at home of persons who, but for the provision of such a service would require to be maintained otherwise than at home. This section empowers, without obliging, health boards to provide support services such as home help, laundry and meals.
The Western Health Board has recently carried out a comprehensive review of their home help services which included an assessment of the dependency levels of those in receipt of the service. A framework is now in place to identify low, medium and high dependency levels of clients to which specific hours are committed reflective of their need. Based on their dependency rating the home help client is to receive five, seven or nine hours home help per week. This is in line with the average in other health boards. In addition, this framework has enabled the board to increase the hourly rate of pay to £2 an hour, effective from 30 September 1996. This increase was made possible by the additional funding of £100,000 made available by my Department to the board earlier this year.
The revised framework was discussed with the board's public health nursing staff and a number of existing home help clients to establish their views on the proposals. Those canvassed have expressed unqualified support for the revised scheme.
I am satisfied that this revised scheme has allowed the board to standardise their home help services in line with other health boards and to provide a more equitable service to the elderly in their catchment area.