Donegal TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn is calling on the HSE to bring a recruitment freeze for home care service workers to an end.
He also slammed recent comments by Saolta CEO Tony Canavan, who referred to the high rate of home care provided directly by the HSE in Donegal as a “problem”.
“A recent comment by the HSE’s top official in the west and northwest of Ireland, Tony Canavan, is very revealing. He described the HSE’s high level of direct home care service in Donegal as a ‘problem’ and stated that in other counties, there is greater scope to avail of private services,” Deputy Mac Lochlainn said in a statement today.
“We should be proud that Donegal has the highest level of home care services provided directly by the State rather than by the private sector,” the Deputy said.
“This is a testament to the strong community spirit in the county and this service is best placed to deliver the quality of care and support that our older people and their families need, in a big rural county like ours.”
“Rather than build on this proud service by resourcing it properly, the HSE have been ordered by the government to put a freeze on their own recruitment, while increasing the use of private providers. This is just massaging the figures and makes no sense.”
Deputy Mac Lochlainn is calling on the Government and the Minister for Health to put an end to the home help recruitment freeze, and to move funding again towards HSE-provided care.
“I am appealing to the Minister for Health and the government to see sense. A properly resourced home care service is vital in Donegal, not only for the older people who need care and support but for our major hospital in Letterkenny and our community hospitals, who will have more beds available to reduce waiting times at the Emergency Department.”
“This recruitment freeze must be ended.”
