Almost 2 Million Home Help Hours Won't Be Delivered This Year Due To Staff Shortages

Thursday, 21 July 2022 09:36

By Caoimhe Harney

The HSE has budgeted for over 24 million home-help hours this year.

Nearly 2 million home-help hours won't be delivered this year, due to staff shortages, new figures also show over 5,000 people are on waiting lists for home support.

The HSE has budgeted for over 24 million home-help hours this year, to help elderly and vulnerable people to continue to live independently, but it will fall far short of delivering that.

As of the end of May, only 8.7 million were given to over 55,000 people around the country.

The HSE estimates about 35,000 hours worth of care will not be delivered every week this year, because of staff shortages.

That amounts to over 1.8 million over the course of 2022.

Some 5,068 people are currently waiting for a new home care package or for additional hours, after being assessed.

Sinn Fein's health spokesman, David Cullinane, says urgent action is needed to recruit more staff:

More from National News

Kfm Recruiting News Journalists

Full-tme and part-time weekends positions. Location: Kfm Broadcast Centre, Naas.
Bluetongue Virus Confirmed in Wexford

".......cannot infect people and does not pose any food safety or human health issue"
Local Authority Tenants Must Get Permission Before Installing Video Doorbells

KCC says it will allow video doorbells, including Ring-style devices, only if prior approval is given,
After Fertility Loss, Care Barriers Remain For Women With Endometriosis, Says Local Woman

Audio

Speaking on Kildare Today, Ms Whelan said she learned last July that the condition had left her unable to have children.
€8.5m Wastewater Upgrade To Enable 900 New Homes In Celbridge, With Traffic Disruption Until May

The works involve the installation of over two kilometres of new wastewater pipeline between the Castletown Wastewater Pumping Station and Crodaun, passing through Castletown Estate, Castletown Drive and the R405 Maynooth Road.
Two Men Arrested In Garda Operation Targeting Burglaries

The investigation looked into more than 40 incidents, including thefts, deception and unauthorised takings of vehicles, in Dublin and across the country last year.
Leak Shuts Junior Infants Class In 19-Year-Old "Temporary" School Building In Celbridge

It remains unclear as to when the works will be completed.
Major DART+ Depot Confirmed For Maynooth-Kilcock Area But No Extra Stop Confirmed For Locals

While the precise site has not been finalised, it has been confirmed the depot will be located between Maynooth and Kilcock, potentially just outside Kilcock.