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01/10/2014
HSE Slammed Over Fair Deal Scheme
Fianna Fáil has hit out at the HSE following revelations that over 2,000 older people have been on nursing home waiting lists, under the Fair Deal scheme, for up to four months because of funding delays.
The party's spokesperson on Health, Billy Kelleher TD, said he is alarmed at the rising number of people on waiting lists.
Deputy Kelleher commented: "The situation with the Fair Deal scheme has deteriorated dramatically over the last three months. Since July, not only have the waiting times have increased, the number of older people on waiting lists has jumped from 1,465 to 2,007.
"These delays are putting many older people and their families in an extremely difficult financial situation as they are expected to fork out thousands of euros to pay for their care while waiting on the HSE to release funding.
"The Fair Deal scheme was designed to allow older people contribute to the cost of their nursing home care, however the excessive delays in the system are forcing them to cover the full cost of their care for months on end, causing additional stress and placing an unwarranted and unnecessary financial burden on them and their families.
"The 2014 HSE Service Plan diverted €23m from the Fair Deal budget and into community and home based care packages. This has left a considerable gap between those who will benefit from those initiatives and those who are waiting for a nursing home bed. These people are now trapped on waiting lists for months, while being expected to pay for a service that they cannot afford.
(CD/JP)
The party's spokesperson on Health, Billy Kelleher TD, said he is alarmed at the rising number of people on waiting lists.
Deputy Kelleher commented: "The situation with the Fair Deal scheme has deteriorated dramatically over the last three months. Since July, not only have the waiting times have increased, the number of older people on waiting lists has jumped from 1,465 to 2,007.
"These delays are putting many older people and their families in an extremely difficult financial situation as they are expected to fork out thousands of euros to pay for their care while waiting on the HSE to release funding.
"The Fair Deal scheme was designed to allow older people contribute to the cost of their nursing home care, however the excessive delays in the system are forcing them to cover the full cost of their care for months on end, causing additional stress and placing an unwarranted and unnecessary financial burden on them and their families.
"The 2014 HSE Service Plan diverted €23m from the Fair Deal budget and into community and home based care packages. This has left a considerable gap between those who will benefit from those initiatives and those who are waiting for a nursing home bed. These people are now trapped on waiting lists for months, while being expected to pay for a service that they cannot afford.
(CD/JP)
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