To ask the Minister of Health to detail his plans to improve accessibility for complete domiciliary care packages for those fit for discharge from hospital.

The main reason that some people in hospital cannot be discharged home with a complete domiciliary care package is due to packages not being available in the area they live. There is some capacity in the whole system but we are finding that this capacity is not in the area where the need exists. The Health and Social Care trusts have given my department reassurance that where capacity exists in the required area that packages of care are being put in place. We also know that the trusts are working to review rotas and runs to try to maximize the available capacity.

You will remember when I wrote to you back in October I referenced that my department had funded a pilot which was then rolled out permanently for an Early Review Team in each of the five HSCT’s. These teams continue to generate domiciliary hours that are recycled back into the system. Some of the trusts have bolstered the team to cover a wider area. Some trusts have continued to increase their block purchased contracts through the Rapid Response route, this is where the trust pay an enhanced rate to the independent sector who ring-fence domiciliary hours specifically to assist with hospital discharges.

Through the Social Care Collaborative Forum, the Fair Work Forum and the work of the Project Steering Group for Home Care there is a recognition for the need to improve this service. Areas to be addressed include fair pay, staff training and opportunities for career progression for the homecare workforce to improve recruitment and retention.

Looking to the near future (2025), the intention is to carry out a review of the regional homecare contract and begin the work to develop a new model for homecare that will better fit our requirements.