A decade after then minister for health Mary Harney promised that applicants for home care packages would be treated in a standard fashion across the State, the Health Service Executive (HSE) continues to operate a discriminatory system. An additional 2,300 people received help to remain in their own homes last year, through the provision of non-medical care. Because of that, the allocation of resources should reflect the demand in differing communities and seek to eliminate existing, stark inequalities. In recent years, most home care packages have been contracted out to private agencies. Keeping ageing citizens out of expensive hospitals and nursing homes makes good social and economic sense.

Source: The Irish Times November 15, 2018 00:00 UTC