Medically vulnerable people in homelessness being failed by the State
Medically vulnerable people in homelessness being failed by the State - The Labour Party
Labour Housing Spokesperson, Conor Sheehan TD has said that medically vulnerable people in homelessness being failed by the state.
Deputy Sheehan was speaking after raising the case in the Dáil last week during statements on homelessness and in today’s Irish Times report.
Sheehan said that a new framework is needed to address medically vulnerable people in homelessness.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“Having one person living in homelessness should be a national scandal. It is a stain on the fabric of this country but the crisis of medically vulnerable people in homelessness is even worse.
“The current frameworks that exist to identify people who are medically vulnerable and homeless or at risk of homelessness are completely ineffective. This is a denial of basic access to emergency healthcare owing to the disadvantaged position that the State has left too many people in.
“Equitable access to healthcare is a fundamental human right and these people are being denied life-saving treatments. It is a fundamental breach and goes against the very ethos of the Irish health service, underpinned by universal healthcare and the principles espoused by Sláintecare.
“Homelessness is extremely traumatic and may lead to increased mental health difficulties for these patients. This situation is avoidable, unnecessary and unjust and is unfair treatment, therefore discriminatory.
“I have had two cases come to in recent weeks alone, one that I raised in the Dáil of a woman who is in a hotel and awaiting a hysterectomy but cannot have the procedure because she would have to be discharged into emergency accommodation which the Minister did not even address in his closing remarks during the debate.
“As a result, this woman is heavily dependent on pain medication, cannot work and is in constant excruciating pain.
“Another case is a man who is undergoing cancer treatment with a Notice of Termination dated next week. He cannot be forced to undergo cancer treatment and be discharged into hostel accommodation with the risk of infection that accompanies such treatment.
“The incidences of people with complex medical needs becoming homeless is increasing rapidly and the existing vulnerability frameworks are insufficient.
“This must be urgently addressed at the High-Level Homelessness Taskforce with the Minister for Health to ensure that a proper framework is put in place to ensure seriously medically vulnerable people are housed in a timelier manner.
“We cannot continue to have a situation where people are falling through the cracks and being put into emergency accommodation which will exacerbate their already serious medical conditions.
“A specific liaison must be put in place to identify and engaging with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies on housing medically vulnerable people who are homeless/at risk of homelessness and a fit for purpose framework is needed for seriously ill people in or at risk of homelessness.
“Given Government’s rent reforms and the 119% increase in homelessness among people over the age of 65 since 2020, with this ageing homeless population, the incidence of medically vulnerable homeless people will continue to rise. I have written to the Minister for Housing to ask for this to be urgently addressed.”