Sir, - In the present crisis in the hospitals, where there is a significant shortage of beds and patients are left on trolleys for hours, we hear nothing about the home carers.
I wonder what the situation would be like without the carers who are caring for the elderly and the disabled at home? These carers, in the majority of cases, are caring for people who should be in hospital. We hear of patients being sent home from hospital, often without prior consultation with the family. There is little thought given to whether or not the family can cope.
Carers are making a very large contribution to easing the crisis in the hospitals. The carer usually is one person who has to carry out all the daily chores at home whereas it takes several people to look after a patient in hospital - doctors, nurses, catering staff and porters etc. There is practically no recognition of the work of the home carer.
In the last Budget, carers received very little consideration. There are still very many carers who do not qualify for any allowances because of the means test.
I am sure that I speak for most carers when I say that the politicians should wake up and give real support and recognition to carers for their contribution to reducing the cost of the health services. This would be more productive than trying to score points off each other, while patients are left on trolleys in accident and emergency units or are sent home while still very ill to be looked after by their carer. - Yours, etc.,
Bernie Brady, Elm Mount Park, Dublin 9.