No plans to regulate private homecare sector despite calls

The Department of Health has conceded there are no plans in the foreseeable future to regulate the private homecare sector.

Private home help services are rapidly expanding as public sector homecare jobs fall victim to health cuts.

Last week alone, homecare provider Bluebird announced the planned creation of 510 jobs across the country, over the next six months.

At least 9,000 people are employed in the private homecare sector. A recent report by the Carers Association suggested that by 2021, a further 44,289 will be needed.

Earlier this year, the Law Reform Commission said the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) should be given the power to set standards and regulate professional homecare services.

However, the department has said “primary legislation and resources will be required for the introduction of a statutory regulation system for homecare services”.

In a report, the commission recommended that both public and private providers of homecare services should be included in the regulatory regime and that the Social Services Inspectorate establish a registry of all professional home help carers.

Dermot Kirwan, a spokesman for Friends of the Elderly said: “If you want to open a dog’s kennel you need to go undergo rigorous evaluation by the State but for homecare, there are no checks at all. You don’t register with anyone.

“The private home help companies are lobbying hard to have regulations put in place but the HSE are dragging their heels on this and so are quite happy with the current situation where complaints are made to them. They don’t want to fund regulation by Hiqa”.

The Irish Homecare Association has sought regulation of the sector for the past 10 years

According to the department, their focus in recent years has been on the regulation of nursing homes and rolling out homecare packages.

However, in recent months, they say they have developed a new procurement framework for homecare packages which has ensured consistency in tendering throughout the regions.

“Currently, those undertaking work on behalf of the HSE must comply with the requirements of the executive.

“It is open to any recipient of homecare, whether HSE related or not, to bring any concerns to the attention of the executive, via local HSE staff or the HSE complaints procedures.

According to the department, “the regulation and inspection, for homecare services for older people is under consideration in the overall context of the licensing of health care providers”.

Various options are being considered, including the complex legal issues involved, and the need to prioritise legislation across the social care area overall with priority given to disabilities and child care areas.