A committee at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has heard that significant challenges with recruitment within the Domiciliary Care Providers has contributed to patients remaining in hospital, despite the fact that they are in a position to be discharged.

It was also revealed that patients could be waiting up to one year for a suitable care package to become available.

Fermanagh and Omagh Health and Social Care Group, which comprises of councillors and members of the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSC), met at the Grange in Omagh recently.

It was revealed at the meeting that 139 patients within the district who were awaiting a new or increased care package. A care package is a plan put in place for the domiciliary care for an individual in a home environment.

Trust members told the meeting that “from April to September 2018, 78 patients were delayed an average of 13 days in the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen and 49 patients were delayed an average of 10 days in the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex due to delays in securing Care Packages”.

The committee heard that there was 18,000 hours per week of Domiciliary Care provided in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area which equated to 46% of the total hours of care provided for the WHSCT area.

Staff at the Trust, the meeting was told, were in regular contact with independent Domiciliary Care providers, however, it was stated that many were under significant challenges due to recruitment and travel issues.

The committee was told the matter would be kept under review and would be considered under the upcoming Pathfinder Programme.

In response to a member’s query, Dr Bob Brown, Executive Director of Nursing & Primary Care and Older People’s Services, stated that some patients could be waiting at least one year to receive a full care package.