Publication of “Domiciliary Care Services for Adults in NI (2016)”

The Department of Health today published a statistical bulletin summarising information on adults receiving domiciliary care services during a survey week in September 2016.

The bulletin presents information on the numbers of clients receiving domiciliary care, contact hours, domiciliary care visits and intensive domiciliary care provision.

The survey was completed by each Health and Social Care Trust between October and December 2016.

Key facts and figures:

During the survey week in September 2016:

Contact Hours

• An estimated 268,883 contact hours of domiciliary care were provided by HSC Trusts in NI, an increase of 5% (13,674) from the survey week in 2015 (255,209).
• The statutory sector provided 30% of domiciliary care contact hours, with 70% provided by the independent sector.
• An average of 11.3 domiciliary care contact hours were provided per client, an increase of 3% when compared to 2015 (11.0).

Clients Receiving Domiciliary Care

• HSC Trusts provided domiciliary care services for 23,873 clients, 3% more than the number during the survey week in 2015 (23,260).

Domiciliary Care Visits

• 436,174* domiciliary care visits were provided to clients, 31% from the statutory sector and 69% from the independent sector.
• Half (50%) of all domiciliary care visits provided to clients were between 16 and 30 minutes long.  Almost three in ten (29%) visits were 15 minutes or less and over one in five* (21%) were more than 30 minutes long.
• 9,825 clients received a domiciliary care visit lasting 15 minutes or less, over two-fifths (41%) of all clients receiving domiciliary care.

* The total regional visits figure includes an estimate for the number of statutory visits greater than 30 minutes in length for the Northern HSC Trust. The estimate is in line with the 2015 survey findings.

Service Intensity

• Nearly nine-tenths (86%) of all clients receiving domiciliary care services received 6 or more visits. The proportion of clients receiving 6 or more visits has increased by 5% (980) since 2012.

Clients Receiving Intensive Domiciliary Care

• 8,752 clients received intensive domiciliary care services, 14% (1,059) more than during the survey week in 2015 (7,693).

Notes to editors: 

1. All publications are available online.
2. About the data:
   • The source of the data contained in this release is the Departmental CC7b statistical return which is collected from HSC Trusts on an annual basis.
   • Figures incorporate all returns and amendments received from HSC Trusts up to 6 December 2016.
3. This statistical bulletin was produced by Community Information Branch, DoH.

   Further information is available from:

   Community Information Branch
   Department of Health
   Room 11
   Annexe 2
   Castle Buildings
   Stormont Estate
   Belfast
   BT4 3SP

   Tel: (028) 90 528134
   Fax: (028) 90 523288
   Email: cib@health-ni.gov.uk
   Internet: Department of Health

4. For media enquiries please contact the Department of Health Press Office on 9052 0074 or email: pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.  For out of hours please contact to Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623 974383 and your call will be returned. Follow us on twitter @healthdpt

Share this page