A parent contacted the Office to raise concerns about the provision by the HSE of respite care services to a child who has a learning disability. The parents stated that the HSE respite care placement, although located in the county in which the family lived, was over 60 miles from the child’s special school in a different county. The arrangement in place was having an adverse affect on the child as the time and distance involved in accessing both specialised resources reduced the benefit of each.

The parents were requesting that HSE respite services be provided closer to the school. The parents told the OCO that this request had been refused by the HSE.

On examination by the Office, it appeared that the child was attending a special school in one county due to the highly specialised nature of the educational programmes undertaken there, but the determining factor regarding the location of HSE respite services available to the child was dependent on the county where the family resided. Respite care services in the area where the school was located were provided by a different HSE area.

Following this Office’s intervention staff from both HSE areas met with the parents and it was agreed to provide shared care respite services in the same area as his school to support his continued education. The HSE advised the Office that the revised proposal was due to additional resources having been approved. It committed to the OCO that the HSE in both areas would work closely with the parents on arrangements, including the transition in the respite care provision.

The Office determined that no further intervention was required as redress had been provided and steps taken to address the difficulties that had arisen.

Posted in: Investigations Health