Home helps told staff will not be available to cover holidays
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN - ‘THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT PUTS SEVERE PRESSURE ON HOME HELPS AND FAMILIES ALIKE’
A CIRCULAR sent out by the HSE to home helps and home help managers in Cork has said that, due to “critical” staff shortages, carers are to inform their clients/families that no cover will be available when they take annual leave.
“Due to a severe shortage of home help staff, we have reached a critical stage with regard to providing sick leave/ annual leave cover to our clients,” read the circular, a copy of which has been furnished to The Corkman.
It said that, with this in mind, recipients were being made aware of some new policies with regard to cover, with immediate effect.
Among these are that helpers, as soon as they book annual leave, are to “inform your clients that cover will not be available” in order to make alternative arrangements if needed.
“Let your families / clients know that this is an ongoing issue and that they need to have a plan in place should you go out on sick leave, with immediate effect. Do not advise your clients/families that cover will be provided or that someone will be there,” read the circular.
It went on to say the HSE would “do our best” to provide cover for those clients who do not have a family, urging carers to let them know if there were any particular circumstances they should be made aware of.
“If clients/families have any questions regarding the above, please have them contact our office,” read the circular.
“You are still free to find cover amongst yourselves if that cover is absolutely necessary and the office is informed,” read the circular.
However, this may also prove difficult as the circular said that both offices in Blackrock and Douglas “may not always be staffed” due to schedule changes. People were urged to leave a detailed message on the phone when possible rather than “just asking for a call back.”
“The same thing goes for answering the phone; if there is only one person in the office, for example, they may not be able to answer the phone due to dealing with a client/home help who has called in. Again, detailed phone messages are the key,” read the circular.
“We appreciate your patiences with these issues, which are out of our control. As always, please feel free to contact is if you have any questions,” it concluded.
Commenting on the contents of the circular, Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan (FF), said the news that holiday cover for home helps and carers will not be facilitated has “sent shock-waves through families up and down north Cork.”
“Home supporters have been told to inform the families they are working with that they will need to find alternative cover, potentially at their own cost, for the period during which they are on leave,” said a furious Deputy Moynihan.
“This is simply outrageous. It puts severe pressure on home helps and families alike. Families are now scrambling to make alternative arrangements and home helps are feeling that them taking holidays is causing distress to the people they are caring for.”
Deputy Moynihan said is was patently clear from the circular that there are not enough home helps in the system to cater for demand and feels that the HSE “must do better” in terms of recruiting and retaining home helps and carers.
“These staff members are crucial and critical elements of the Irish service – not optional extras. Without them, the system will collapse. We can never underestimate their importance in terms of allowing older people leave hospital after an illness,” he said.
“The HSE needs to reverse this policy decision and work with home helps and carers to enable everyone take annual leave and still ensure that those in need of care get the support they have paid taxes all their lives for.”
The Corkman contacted the HSE inviting them to comment on the issue but had not received a reply at time of going to press.