New rostering arrangements in the HSE Home Support Services in Cork have resulted in some clients experiencing a drop in support hours
The matter was raised with Mary Butler, Minister of State at the Department of Health in the Seanad earlier today
Cork Senator Tim Lombard says the service has been diminished since April and families are upset at the loss in hours
In response Minister Butler said the rostering changes were introduced to ensure overall consistency in the service and not to decrease clients' hours
"That was challenges around the old system, and the old system was when a person rang in sick that particular day often a client was left without somebody. That was one of the reasons that they have been working over the last two years on this particular new roster, and it has been working across many, many areas but there's always going to be teething issues"
