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OPINION: The recent uproar over assessments the Otago and Southland DHBs are making in terms of home help brought to light some interesting cases, writes Eric Roy (National) in this week's From the Beehive.
I had anecdotal reports of people who were receiving home help, yet were able to play golf three times a week. While the job of checking the veracity of such statements is best left to the district health board assessors, it does raise another side to the story.
The assessments were not a Government directive, but rather done from a management perspective at the DHB.
It does make sense to assess what levels people are receiving and to adjust accordingly. After a similar assessment in Canterbury, a lot more people began to receive home help assistance. Any social service should periodically reassess levels of need.
Otago DHB member Richard Thomson wrote recently about the distinction in the care and support funded by health boards, saying that "personal care" has as its primary target keeping someone in their home. As he said, "Almost all people at risk of resthome care will be receiving personal care and there is no proposal to reduce this."
At the other end, there is a large number of people who receive up to two hours a week of domestic support. It is the people in this category who are classified as low need that are likely to have their support reduced.
Why, other than the periodic assessment necessity, would the DHBs do this? Again, Mr Thomson notes that in Otago, some core services, such as neonatal delivery, emergency department and mental health are underfunded at present.
The combined DHBs are facing a $20 million deficit. With that in mind, it is appropriate to reassess spending. The health needs of the entire community need to be taken into account.
Is it more important to have domestic support for those classified as low need, or to cut core hospital services because of a lack of funding? I suspect most would see the latter as the objective goal.
The district health boards have assured the health minister that no-one will be unsafe or unable to stay in their home as a result of these changes. I will personally monitor the situation to ensure there is no increased health risk or hardship causing other risks.
Anyone who believes they have not been treated fairly as a result of an assessment is welcome to contact my office with the details, and I will let the minister know.
» Eric Roy is the National Party electorate MP for Invercargill.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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I know one person on a permenant benefit (not me)who had there hip replaced/knee replaced & there beifit reduced,home help was 1 hour per week. They could not walk, had to get a taxi to & from hospital in Invercargill,had to get some friends in to feed her/clean the house/get the groceries/feed the little baby cats she has for company. On top of that we could mention other criteria this person badly needed as she also has issues with communication. Apparently you are never in your office to hear these issues from people like this,if that is being an mp I will chuck my hat in the ring for the job. There are people here in Invercargill who need help which is not there, I never voted for lazy politicians who do nothing to help people gain independance. We are an inside culture so start visiting those that live there,cover the main street (weather protection, brighter shops)to represent us now not those who were around 100 years ago & stop hiding.