Pathfinder is a collaborative HSE initiative between St Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny and the National Ambulance Service. It is a home-based service for people aged 65 and over who phone 112/999 with non-life threatening complaints. The aim of the Pathfinder team is to provide assessment and intervention within people’s home, rather than transferring them to a hospital Emergency Department, where safe and appropriate to do so. Over Christmas workers in Pathfinders were suddenly informed that they were to be redeployed from the community to working within St. Luke’s hospital.
People Before Profit councillor Adrienne Wallace has raised concerns about the move and the manner in which the decision was made and communicated. She has launched an online petition to try and keep this service in the community.
She said “This is an essential frontline service that centres care around the elderly in Carlow and Kilkenny. It supports the most vulnerable in our community. In 2024 they supported 270 patients and that number has been steadily increasing to nearly 30 or 40 a month.
“These essential workers have knocked on the doors of hundreds of vulnerable people and allowed them to get the care and support they need in the comfort of their own homes. There is a wealth of data which shows hospital stays can increase the risk of catching deathly bugs or viruses. It can also increase the risk of medication errors, falls, immobility and many more instances that can increase mortality rates. It also saves families and carers from the logistical stress of a hospital stay and has been proven to save money to the taxpayer.”
In response to media requests the HSE stated that as part of the Unscheduled Care Winter Plan 2025, St Luke’s General Hospital temporarily redeployed its Health and Social Care Professional staff currently assigned to the Pathfinder model to an Early Supported Discharge model for a period of four months, beginning on the 5th of January. A HSE spokesperson also added that this “Allows the hospital to maximise the impact of therapy resources during the winter period, ensuring timely discharge and continuity of care in the community”
Cllr Wallace responded “Despite multiple requests to the HSE, they have not provided any data to demonstrate that this move is the best use of resources or is in the best interest of vulnerable people. To date there has been a serious lack of transparency and oversight.
“While management say this is a temporary redeployment, the manner in which they have abruptly stopped Pathfinders does not inspire confidence, nor have they published any data that explores the ramifications that even a temporary closure will have on people in the community. There is also a concern that this could affect Pathfinder services nationwide.”
She concluded by stating that “We need funding for Early Supported Discharge while ensuring a high standard of support in the community with Pathfinders, it should not be one or the other.”
The petition calls on the HSE and the management of St. Luke's to reverse their decision and keep Pathfinder Workers in the community – it can be signed by visiting https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/keep-pathfinder-workers-in-the-community or uplift.ie