Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West Michael Moynihan has expressed concern at rising numbers of older people waiting on Fair Deal funding.
“A 16% increase in the Fair Deal waiting list nationally over three weeks from June to July is extraordinary to say the least. Locally in North Cork, the waiting list grew from 21 to 26 between the 7th June and the 17 July, while across the whole of Co. Cork, 98 people are waiting for a place in a nursing home”, said Deputy Moynihan.
“The last thing we need is a repeat of what happened in 2014 when the numbers waiting for a nursing home placement went from 654 in February of that year to 2,114 by the following October. If the rate of increase we have seen over three June weeks continues, well over 1,000 people will be waiting by September.
“Families have been contacting my office frustrated by the delays in the system. The HSE has confirmed to me that the current waiting time for older people securing a place in a nursing home once they have been approved for funding is between six and seven weeks. However, the application process itself can prove to be cumbersome and can cause delays in approval.
“Minister Daly needs to get on top of this. The crisis in older people’s care and services whether in the home or in residential care needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
