6,458 still waiting on home care

NEARLY 6,500 older people are waiting on home care and home help – a jump of 19% in the first quarter of the year.

Around 6,458 pensioners were on the waiting list at the end of March, up from 5,418 at the end of 2017.

Fianna Fail health spokesman Stephen Donnelly said: “As the HSE acknowledges, demand continues to grow.

“Overall from January to March, the HSE missed its target for home support hours by around 40,000 – or around 1%.

“However, regionally the variations are extraordinary with four Community Health Organisations having a variance of 10% or greater from their target.”