Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Lewis has said the delays in accessing suitable care packages is unacceptable. He has called on the Southern Trust to do more to ensure patients’ needs are being met.

Councillor Lewis said:

“People can require a care package for a whole range of reasons. Sometimes it’s because they are older and just need some extra support around the house and sometimes it’s because they have been in hospital and they just require a level of ongoing care and support at home.

“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to secure packages such as these. In many cases the delays are seeing family members and neighbours having to step in to provide immediate care and support.

“Problems in securing domiciliary packages are also forcing growing numbers of people to stay in hospital or nursing homes for far longer than they medically need to. Given typical hospital stays cost around £400 per day, as well as the wider bed-shortage crisis in the health service at present, it is preposterous that a shortage of care packages is forcing people to stay in hospital far longer than required.

“I have been assisting a constituent who has witnessed serious difficulties accessing home help. She has been without home assistance or a care package for almost eleven months.

“Her case has now been referred to the Trust's Brokerage service, as is the Trust's protocol and procedure. Brokerage send out contacts twice daily to all providers working within Down sector, highlighting need and seeking an update on all referrals known to them. Unfortunately however, to date not a single provider to meet my constituents needs has not been sourced. There are significant recruitment difficulties within the sector, this is unfortunately reflected by all providers.

"I am aware that the Trust has been offering an option of direct payments but for me this is deeply concerning - patients should not be forced to be responsible for sourcing their own care. This also opens concerns of employment responsibility - does the patient become the employer? Are they responsible for the welfare of their own care provider? This is a completely unworkable situation and should be imminently reviewed by the Trust."

"We are now seeing total political failure, the outworking of no devolved government, no accountable locally elected Minister responsible for the front line delivery of health care provision.

“With a rapidly ageing population, the problem is likely to get much worse unless there is a fresh approach taken to the recruitment and retention of new care workers, as well as an acknowledgement that older people are far better off both medically and financially staying in their own homes for as long as it is practicable to do so.”