Daycare services for disabled resumed throughout the country after almost six months of COVID interruption but at reduced capacity - Eileen Lynch
THE resumption of the provision of day care services for the disabled throughout the country and, in particular, in the Cork Kerry region has been welcomed by local Fine Gael councillor, Eileen Lynch.
Services were stopped in mid March due to the threat of Covid and many vulnerable service users and their families were left without access to services or services of an outreach support nature only until the end of August.
Cllr Lynch raised the issue of the resumption of services at the meeting of the HSE South Health Forum which took place last week.
“Since the start of the summer, I have been working very closely with those in receipt of adult disability day services in our community.
“Understandably, services were stopped in March due to Covid yet they are only resuming now.”
Cllr Lynch said she asked the HSE for a specific response in relation to the resumption of day care services in Cork and in relation to the level of service the clients of such services were receiving now in comparison to pre Covid levels.
“I was informed that all service providers have advised Disability Services, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare that their day services are open five days a week but are operating on a reduced capacity to comply with social distancing and public health advice, and it is anticipated that this will be the case for the duration of COVID.
“Each agency is working to provide a level of service to all individuals who previously attended day service locations.”
She said that she was told that the level of service was being kept under constant review.
“Whilst the return of services varies from agency to agency, overall services are at 50%-70% of the level that they had been pre- Covid.
“It’s vital that this matter would remain on the agenda and under discussion.”
A new HSE portal, New Beginnings, has been opened recently to provide information on care providers.