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Healthcare Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Ceisteanna (514)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

514. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of a statutory right to homecare which is included in the Sláintecare action plan for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59958/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 commits the State to reforms that will allow people to access health care in a timely manner and as close to their own homes as is safely possible. The development of a new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services is part of these reforms.

The Action Plan states that in the first half of 2021, the Department of Health should work on advancing and continuing the development of the scheme. This work, which is ongoing, 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.

With the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, it is envisaged that the regulatory 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.

Earlier this year, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. This is being progressed by the Department with a view of bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. It is expected that the primary legislation will give the Minister for Health the power to make regulations in respect of minimum requirements which will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a licence will be determined. The Department commenced a targeted stakeholder consultation on these draft minimum requirements. In addition, HIQA ran a public scoping consultation to inform the development of their National Standards for Home Support Services.

In relation to the development of a statutory scheme for the financing of home support, the Department is undertaking work on the potential demand for and cost of the introduction of a such a scheme.

The Action Plan states that in the second half of 2021, the Department of Health should work on commencing the implementation and evaluation of the reformed model of service delivery. Funding was secured for the Health Service Executive to: (i) progress the roll-out of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs in the community; (ii) pilot a reformed model of service-delivery for home-support; and (iii) establish a National Office for Home Support Services.

The testing of the reformed model of service delivery for home-support commenced in November 2021 in the first of the four pilot sites, CHO 8 (East Westmeath). It is envisaged that the three other sites in CHOs 2, 4 and 7 will be fully operational by January 2022. The recruitment of 130 posts funded for the national rollout of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs is scheduled to commence in this quarter. A National Home Support Office is in the process of being established. A comprehensive and robust operational model for the roll-out of the interRAI has been developed which will facilitate effective, efficient, fair and transparent care needs assessment and planning and appropriate service delivery. The interRAI outputs and pilot site evaluation will be critical to the development of the new home-support scheme.

The Action Plan states that the implementation of the home-support scheme will commence in 2022.

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