Family carers demand more support as State services grapple with staff shortages

Teena Gates, broadcaster and full-time carer for her father (96) who has dementia, caught Covid-19 in early December. HSE-provided carers did not come for eight days which she understands was due to staff shortages.

Family carers have demanded more supports as they are having to take on a greater burden while State services grapple with staff shortages.

As previously reported in this newspaper, the Cork/Kerry region is 21% down on homecare staff with a largescale HSE recruitment campaign underway aimed at hiring 300 people. In the Mid-West region covering Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary the HSE is also recruiting staff with 70 to be added this year.