Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty TD has said that any future Government must do all it can to support carers and those receiving home help support.
While campaigning in Gaoth Dobhair and Cloich Cheann Fhaola, Deputy Doherty said that immediate and urgent action was needed to make sure that those who had been approved for home care and support had access to a carer to provide that support.
“So many people in Donegal have brought this issue to my attention while I’ve been canvassing over the past number of days and it’s just not acceptable.
“People in need of home support and who have been approved for this support, have been left without it because of the ongoing embargo in the sector.
“It is also putting huge pressure on hospitals because of delayed discharges and it is forcing older people into nursing homes.
“We know that it costs €5,964 per week to care for someone in an acute hospital bed, while it costs just €160 per week with a home help support package.
“This situation is frustrating because I know that there are carers throughout Donegal and the rest of the country who are available and who are only too willing to offer and provide care to those in need.
“Fine Gael, supported by Fianna Fáil, have allowed this situation to happen, and in doing so, they are promoting the privatization of home help supports.
“They are forcing people into the private system and this is a huge expense for families.
“Sinn Féin in government would not let this happen,” he said.
Pearse Doherty is urging the HSE to look at this situation and to move urgently to ensure that those who have been approved for home help hours receive that support.
“In government, Sinn Féin is committed to providing 12 million extra home help hours.
“This is the type of investment that is needed so that our carers, and those they care for, know that we care about them.
“Our carers play such an important role in our communities and Sinn Féin in government would be there to support them every step of the way,” he said.
Sinn Féin has published a comprehensive policy document entitled “Empowering Carers” which sets out the practical ways we would support our carers.
This is available through the following link:
https://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/54096
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