A TEENAGE boy who suffers from cerebral palsy and cannot speak, walk or use most of his limbs has had his home-help hours cut almost in half amid claims by his mother that the Health Service Executive (HSE) has consistently ignored his plight.
Simon Connolly (17) from Kilmurry, near Lissarda, Co Cork, is awaiting two operations and requires around-the-clock care.
Recently his HSE-funded home-help time was cut from 12½ hours to 7½ hours a week, which his mother insists is just not sufficient to meet his needs. No explanation was given, his parents say.
Mary and Michael Connolly, both of whom suffer from back problems, have little choice but to lift their 5ft 11in son out of bed and into a wheelchair several times a day.
In addition to cerebral palsy Simon has epilepsy and asthma. He is due to have a hip operation and a scoliosis operation over the next few months.
Mrs Connolly says the family is getting desperate for help.
“Simon is a fantastic boy. He is oozing with personality and charm. But the home help is essential. I couldn’t believe when the hours were taken away. It is so upsetting. We can’t do it on our own.”
At the moment Simon is spending most of his time in bed as his wheelchair has fallen apart. It can be repaired but he needs a new one in the next six to eight months for his post-operative care.
His mother says in addition to the pressure from the reduction in home-help hours the family is also struggling to pay for vital equipment.
“We do need to get a van with proper suspension and a winch to pull the chair up into the van rather than us having to try push. Michael is 61 and I am 56 and we have back problems. Nobody is well. It is not easy.”
As well as the update of the van Simon needs the front garden made wheelchair-accessible, the doors widened in each room, a double patio door to enable him to access the back garden and a wheelchair-accessible bathroom.
Recently a specialist bedding company gave Simon a loan of a special mattress suited to his needs which costs €8,000 but it has to be returned in the coming months.
A spokesman for the HSE South said he was unable to discuss a patient’s details with anyone other than the patient themselves or their next of kin. However, he said levels of services provided by the home-help service were reviewed regularly, and the level of service to an individual case may increase, reduce or may remain the same based on the need of the individual.
Donations to the Simon Connolly benefit fund can be made via a specially set up Permanent TSB account in Macroom, Co Cork. Account no 13211490 and sort code 990735.