Robert Troy
Ceist:73. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the new statutory scheme will be introduced in view of the substantial deficit in the provision of home help hours. [48814/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 26 November 2019
Ceisteanna (73)
Freagraí scríofa
The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy commits to the introduction of a statutory homecare scheme by the end of 2021. As part of this, work is on-going to determine the optimal approach to the development of the scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms and in 2019 work has focussed on the design of the scheme, the options for regulation, and a review of existing services. Stakeholder-consultation will continue throughout the development of the new scheme.
In 2020 the HSE will deliver over 19.2 million hours of home support. This represents a substantial increase of 1 million hours more than this year’s target. This investment is focused on enabling older people to remain at home, where they want to be, and reducing the current waiting lists for the service being experienced in almost all areas.
Of the additional €52m allocated in Budget 2020 for home support services, a proportion of this funding will be used to test a reformed model of service delivery in 2020 at pilot sites. My Department is currently working with the HSE to identify the pilot sites and to agree the approach to testing.