Wexford man ‘stranded’ in Dublin hospital
LABOUR leader Deputy Brendan Howlin has raised the issue of a Wexford man ‘stranded’ in an acute rehabilitation hospital because he can’t get funding for the supports to enable him to live at home.
The Wexford deputy raised the issue in the Dail last week following the public furore over elderly couple Michael and Kathleen Devereux, from Wexford town, who had been separated since April as a result of HSE red tape and bureacracy.
Deputy Howlin said Jonathan Leech, from rural Enniscorthy, had suffered an agricultural accident in October, 2016, and couldn’t live independently. Jonathan is in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire – a centre, which as of March, had a waiting list of 226 patients seeking treatment, but can’t move home because there is no funding for the 90 hours of home car approved by the HSE.
‘There is a lack of joined up thinking, it’s unconscionable,’ said Deputy Howlin.
‘He is in a very expensive bed in an acute hospital with a waiting list. It would cost less for him to go home to his wife, his doctors say he can go home, but he can’t,’ said the Deputy.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said Jonathan requires an intensive home-care package to support him and the Centre for Independent Living said it is in a position to provide it.
Raising the issue in the Dáil last week, Deputy Howlin said it is yet another example of diabolical thinking’ on the part of the HSE, pointing out that it will cost a lot more money to care for Jonathan in hospital, than providing the funds for the homecare package.
While the family gave him permission to ‘go public’ with their story, Deputy Howlin was reluctant to give out too much personal information, such as Jonathan’s exact age and details of his injuries.