Home Care Costs and Useage

This year the HSE will spend €341m on home care services which provides services to over 60,000 people including older people, people with a disability and mental health clients. The majority, in excess of 90%, of home care services are provided directly by HSE staff, many of whom are qualified clinical staff. In addition to HSE provided services, services are also provided through a range of voluntary organisations and private service providers funded by the HSE.

Independent surveys carried out in 2009 on behalf of the HSE indicated that there is a good level of satisfaction with services provided under the Home Care Packages scheme. One report states that; “All interviewed identified that the Home Care Package providers were trustworthy and respectful of their wishes”.

However, the HSE acknowledges that issues can sometimes arise with the provision of home care services. If a member of the public wants to report a concern with a home care service they should contact the HSE directly.

The HSE’s Information line, 1850 24 1850, will operate until 11pm this evening and will reopen at 8am on Tuesday for anyone who wants to report a concern in relation to home care services. All concerns will be handled sensitively in cooperation with the client and their family.

Ensuring that issues are reported by clients when they arise is an important aspect of service improvement and development. The HSE deals with a number of complaints in relation to these services each year and seeks to put alternative arrangements in place for clients who make a complaint. For example; the eight Local Health Offices in the Greater Dublin region received a total of 38 complaints relating to home care services over the last 3 and a half years.