Reilly blames carers’ plight on services neglect

THE plight of carers around the country is largely to blame on the neglect of community care services and an over-investment in the acute hospital system, Health Minister James Reilly has claimed.

Dr Reilly was responding to the shocking issues raised in relation to carers in an RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme which found more than eight in 10 family carers have been affected by cutbacks in State services, particularly home support services. The cutbacks have forced some carers to consider institutional care for family members in the absence of home support. Others in need of care remain in institutions because they cannot access community services.

Speaking on Prime Time last night, Dr Reilly said he was “utterly amazed” at any reduction in home help hours because it made “no logical or financial sense” to force people into long-term institutional care.