Health watchdog calls for 'complete overhaul' of homecare

In its position paper on the regulation of homecare, Hiqa said it was well accepted that the preferred place of care for many people is in their own home, something that takes on added focus when considering the country's aging population. File photo

Health watchdog Hiqa has called for a "complete overhaul" of homecare, saying the current situation is "unsustainable" and urging new legislation based on need and adequate level of services for those who need it.

In a new position paper on the regulation of homecare and in an accompanying It pinpointed a range of issues with the current unregulated nature of homecare, including "problematic and inconsistent" funding, that homecare visits are often rushed due to the pressures on homecare workers to travel between service users’ homes, and to risks associated with the current homecare landscape.