The HSE has been urged to address the lack of home help staff in the East Donegal area, as the care crisis continues to have a direct effect on patients.
373 people in Donegal are currently waiting on a new home support service or an increase in their current package of care.
This figure includes 120 clients in Donegal East, 40 in Inishowen, 75 in North Donegal and 138 in South Donegal.
Councillor Gary Doherty outlined the reality of the situation to the Regional Health Forum West yesterday, citing a case in his own area of East Donegal.
“A gentleman whom I dealt with recently was on the waiting list with a number of very serious medical conditions,” Cllr Doherty said.
“He was sadly deteriorating to such an extent he eventually became reliant on oxygen 24/7. He had an adjustable bed installed in his own home. As per his own wishes, he wanted to remain in his own home. As his wife was also elderly he was reliant on home help services.
“While he was granted home help hours, he was placed on the waiting list like 120 others in Donegal East.
“This gentleman sadly passed before he received home help assistance.”
Cllr Doherty continued: “I understand there will always be certain delays, that is to be expected, but I feel to have 120 on a waiting list with a cohort of only 138 staff does need attention and needs to be rectified.”
The HSE has said that home help support hours in Donegal are forecast to reach a year-on year increase of 157,062 hours (12.6%) this year. The total projected hours of Home Support in Donegal is expected to be 1,407,855 hours in 2024.
Cllr Doherty asked the HSE why target hours together with the staffing numbers are not increased to meet the actual service demand.
In response, Dermot Monaghan, Integrated Health Area Manager of Donegal said that Donegal East is one of the areas where the HSE is most challenged with in terms of recruitment.
“At the present moment we don’t have any recruitment process underway in the area because we are living within our pay and numbers strategy,” he said.
“We still have to work within our budget, we are well above our funded budget but that does not say we treat every case as compassionately as we can. We are trying very hard to get hours freed up,” Mr Monaghan said.
Cllr Doherty added: “I appreciate you are doing everything you can to do what you can. It would certainly raise the question as to the pay and number strategy that has prevented us from actively recruiting the numbers of home help staff that we need in Donegal East.”
Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West added that the HSE is anticipating more funding for home help hours in 2025.
