Kildare South Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon has raised delays in the provision of Home Care Packages in Kildare and Laois in the Dail today (Tuesday) and called on the HSE and the Department of Health to find the funding to clear the current backlog as soon as possible.
“The priority must be to clear the current waiting lists which would allow patients the dignity and comfort of returning to their own homes while also freeing up much needed hospital beds as we head into the winter months.
“In the past 6 months I have dealt with many cases from stroke and cancer victims to patients suffering from early onset dementia and recovering from surgery who are awaiting the delivery of home care packages to allow them receive appropriate help and support in their own homes.
“CH07, the HSE section dealing with Kildare seems to have a disproportionate level of waiting lists when compared to other areas of similar size such as Cork/Kerry where at a similar population level the waiting list is only a quarter of CH07.
“In raising this important issue for my area I want to see detailed analysis of why significant delays have built up this year when it hasn’t occurred in other areas of comparable population to us. I want to ensure that lessons are learned and that we are not back in this situation again in the future.
“Sick and elderly Kildare and Laois residents are still waiting on the care they need to function in their own homes. I will continue to ask these questions until I get answers and see funding allocated to clear the backlogs that currently exist.”