To ask the Minister of Health to detail the steps he is taking to provide domiciliary care to anyone who needs it.

There remain challenges in the provision of domiciliary care across Trust areas. However, my Department continues to work to ensure the provision of a high quality care service that can effectively meet people’s assessed needs.

Trusts continue to review their domiciliary care capacity, workforce rotas and waiting lists to ensure that every resource is effectively deployed for those in hospital or in the community who need care packages. Trusts also monitor and report on hospital and domiciliary care waiting lists to the Health and Social Care Board, which allows for regional oversight of this issue.

While there are a range of factors which can impact upon the delivery of care ultimately the objective should be to meet the assessed needs of the service user, whether care is provided by the statutory or independent sector.

Although this would ideally be within an individual’s own home, there are occasions where this demand cannot be met. To allow for this, charges for care home beds are currently being waived to allow people to leave hospital and wait for their community care package to be arranged in a care home setting, free of charge. This is an interim measure intended to support the wider Health and Social Care system.

The Department has also reviewed and re-issued the regional Direct Payments guidance, to simplify the process, make it less restrictive and make the option more attractive to prospective users.

I have recognised the need for action to support the sector over the current challenging period and was therefore pleased to confirm a £23million funding package for domiciliary care and care home staff. This funding is being rolled out to providers through Trusts and there has been positive feedback on how this package has helped to stabilise the sector, and supported recruitment and retention.

My Department will continue to work in conjunction with all Trusts, the Health and Social Care Board, and providers, to ensure the Health and Social Care system continues to provide care for those who need it.