Carlow Kilkenny Home Care Team transfer responsibility of operations to the HSE

The Board of Directors of Carlow Kilkenny Homecare (CKHC) announce that it has secured the long-term funding and governance of its Clinical Nurse Team with the full transfer of responsibility for this aspect of its operations to the HSE.

The Carlow Kilkenny Homecare voluntary organisation was founded in 1989 by consultant Mr Ian Wilson and has since operated in Carlow and Kilkenny for over 34 years.

The group was the first Homecare team established in Ireland outside of Dublin and ever since has been at the forefront of the development of the Homecare movement in the country. 

This announcement means guaranteed funding and continuation of the services provided by the team, as well as development of a range of new services including providing new supports to families and patients.

Alongside the new guaranteed funding, the organisation will continue to fundraise and is always grateful for any donations.

Staffing and management of the service will continue the same for users of the service.

The change simply means that the responsibility for the funding, management and operation of the front-line operations of the local Homecare service are now being fully assumed by the HSE.

The HSE have confirmed they are increasing the number of nursing staff employed as part of the Team.  

The Board of CKHC says that the change is a positive development in the context of the increasing complexity of treatments and technologies, as well as new requirements relating to regulation and governance of healthcare providers. 

While Carlow Kilkenny Homecare will continue to co-operate with the HSE and the Nursing Team, it remains independent of HSE and has autonomy over the distribution of funding for new services which it says will always be directed towards the best interests of patients and their families at what is a difficult time of their lives.

Speaking regarding the announcement, CKHC board member Catherine Quinlan, who worked as a Nurse with Carlow Kilkenny Homecare alongside Mr Ian Wilson when the service was first launched in 1989, and who was the Clinical Nurse Manager of the Service before her recent retirement, said that the development is extremely positive and will allow the organisation to expand its work to new areas: “We would like to thank Mr Ian Wilson who had the vision and the skills to bring these valuable services to the people of Carlow and Kilkenny. We would also like to thank the thousands of individuals and families who have welcomed us into their homes over the years at what has invariably been a very difficult time for them. Through the support of countless more families, individuals and organisations, Carlow Kilkenny Home Care has become an intrinsic part of healthcare in this area. We look forward to continuing our work for patients and families in new and innovative ways”.