I wish to raise the issue of the HSE discharging people from hospitals without the consent or co-operation of the families and in breach of the HSE's own protocols. I have an example of a man in south Leitrim who had a stroke and was in the care of the HSE. His sister in Dublin got a phone call saying, "He is going home today". She said there was nobody at home and that the house was under reconstruction because of the situation. She was told that he would be put in a taxi and sent home. That is it. A similar situation in south Donegal involved a lady who was in hospital. She was a very vulnerable patient with poor eyesight. Her daughter phoned the hospital to inquire about her and she was told she had already gone home. The daughter contacted a neighbour who had found the lady wandering outside in her pajamas in the month of January. This type of situation is happening more often than one would realise. Because of the pressures the HSE is under it is pushing people out, in breach of its own protocols and often without a care package in place. In regard to that gentleman in Country Leitrim who had had a stroke, adequate services for his rehabilitation were only put in place this week. He was waiting for two months. No care plans are being given to people and they are being sent home in breach of the HSE's own protocols and regulations.

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