Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo, Lisa Chambers, has called on the Minister and the HSE to address the number of people waiting for home help hours in Mayo.
Speaking on the matter Deputy Chambers said: "There are over 300 people waiting for Home Support Services in Mayo. Over 130 of those people are waiting over 12 months.
"This is completely unacceptable and the Minister himself knows this, yet he has stood over a decision by the HSE to close off its home help scheme to new entrants until November. This vital service ensures that patients can be cared for in their own home, taking pressure off our hospitals that are already way above capacity. Additional supports to the service are badly needed, not more restrictions on the service.
"There is no doubt this decision is on the back of the massive overrun in the new Children’s Hospital. Taking more resources from an already sparsely resourced service is clearly going to further put pressure on that service and create an even bigger backlog for people waiting to get the home support they so desperately need.
"This Government’s policy is to ensure people can stay in their home for longer and be cared for by a loved one. However, the current situation within the system and decisions being taken by the Minister and the HSE completely contradicts this.
"I am calling on the Minister to rethink his own policies when it comes to the home help scheme and to address the current backlog for people waiting and those waiting for extra supports."
