Brendan Griffin
Ceist:564. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the fair deal scheme will be extended for care in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44937/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 6 November 2018
Ceisteanna (564)
Freagraí scríofa
Improving home support services so that people can continue to live with confidence, dignity and security in their own homes for as long as possible is a key commitment of Government. As the Deputy is aware, there have been calls to extend the Nursing Home Support Scheme, commonly known as the 'Fair Deal’ scheme, to cover home support services. In keeping with the Government’s pledge in A Programme for a Partnership Government to introduce ‘a uniform homecare service so all recipients can receive a quality support, 7 days per week, where possible’, the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy instead commits to the establishment of a stand-alone statutory scheme for homecare in 2021.
The new scheme will introduce clear rules in relation to the services for which individuals are eligible and in relation to service allocation. It will therefore be an important step in ensuring that the system operates in a consistent and fair manner as well as helping to improve access to home support services on an affordable and sustainable basis. The introduction of a system of regulation for home support will help to ensure public confidence in the services provided by ensuring good standards are maintained on an ongoing basis. The new scheme will also be designed to support family/unpaid carers and will integrate effectively with other health and social care services, such as long-term residential care (including the Nursing Homes Support Scheme), primary and community services, and hospital services.
The development of a statutory scheme and system of regulation for home support services is a complex undertaking. Important milestones in the process of developing the new scheme include the publication of a review of the home care systems in 4 EU countries in April 2017 and a report of the findings of a public consultation on home care in June 2018. Over 2,600 responses to the consultation were received. This initial research and stakeholder consultation has significantly enhanced the evidence base for the development of the proposed statutory scheme.
However, a significant amount of additional work remains to be carried out before final decisions are taken on the form of the home support scheme and system of regulation. This is required if the reforms are to be successful, affordable and sustainable. The Department will continue to prioritise its work in developing the new scheme and every effort will be made to progress this matter as quickly as possible.
While the new home support scheme is under development, the Department of Health and Health Service Executive are continuing efforts to improve existing home support services. In 2018 the HSE brought the funding for home help and Home Care Packages together into a single home support service for older people. As well as simplifying the application process for home support, the new service will be more responsive to service users' changing needs. More broadly the HSE will continue to encourage local integration of services and to build appropriate care pathways, in particular for people with complex needs. A consumer-directed approach to home support provision will be introduced, giving service users greater choice in relation to when they receive services and their selection of a service provider. This enhancement of current service provision is being supported by increased investment in home support services. In line with the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government (2016) to increase funding for home care annually, home support services received particular priority in Budget 2018, with an additional €18.25m allocated bringing the total home support allocation for 2018 to almost €417 million, which includes funding for intensive home care packages. The HSE 2018 National Service Plan provides for over 17 million home support hours to be delivered to 50,500 people at any time and 235 Intensive Home Care Packages for people with more complex needs delivering approximately 360,000 hours in the full year. A further 156,000 hours, relating to adverse weather funding, will be provided this year.
The Department of Health and the HSE are currently in the process of developing and agreeing the HSE's National Service Plan 2019, which will set out in detail the type and quantum of services to be delivered in 2019 including in relation to home support services.