The HSE says is to relax controversial time rules being considered for children’s In-home palliative care services in Donegal allowing parents and guardians to leave the home for periods of no than 30 minutes during visits by nursing staff.
The decision, which was announced at the HSE Oireachtas Health Forum in Stranorlar, comes following months of growing frustration from parents of children with complex needs and life limiting conditions who opposed the restrictions which were first mooted earlier this year.
Deputy Pearse Doherty said he is delighted to have it confirmed by HSE management that the executive has decided to rethink and relax its plans.
“The time rules would have seen parents and guardian only being allowed to leave the home for a maximum of 30 minutes during visits by nursing staff, after which they would have been required to return to their residence.
“Understandably, parents of children with complex needs have been deeply opposed to these plans to limit their rest periods to only half hour breaks as many feel that 30 minutes is not an adequate amount of time away from the home to allow parents to re-charge or to take a break from the responsibility of having to provide round the clock care for children with such severe conditions.
“I’ve been working closely with these parents, as well with representatives from advocacy group ‘Our Children’s Voice, and I have brought their concerns to both the HSE and the Minister as it is clear that the plans were not practical nor were they being done with the best interest of these families in mind.
“At today’s Health Forum meeting in Stranorlar, at which Our Children’s Voice was also present, I was of course very pleased to have it confirmed by Management that the HSE is now going to reconsider its plans to introduce these harsh time based restrictions on parents and guardians for In-home palliative nursing care services in the county.”
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