Tom Devereaux, the distraught son of Michael and Kathleen Devereaux contacted Liveline in a last-ditch attempt to resolve the situation that had been causing untold strife to his elderly parents.  After 63 years of marriage, they were separated when Michael (90) was accepted into a Wexford nursing home under the HSE Fair Deal scheme, but Kathleen (85) was not.

After continued worry and hardship, Tom was delighted to contact the programme the following day to share the great news that a resolution had been reached and that his parents will once again be reunited.

"I had a phone call from Minister Simon Harris…  He confirmed that the HSE have agreed that my mother will go to the nursing home to be joined with her husband again and that will happen as soon as possible."

Arrangements are currently being made through the HSE's transitional care team and although the Devereaux family has no indication as to when the reunion will happen, they are relieved that the ordeal has come to an end.  Tom says:

"I haven't been able to contact my father yet because he was in at dinner but I have been able to contact my mother.  She's very down today after the trauma of yesterday but she is so, so happy with the good news and very, very thankful for all you've done Joe."

Of Minister Simon Harris' reaction, Tom says:

"He was horrified at the application of the legislation in my parent's case where they must be compassion shown in cases where people have been married for a considerable time and are elderly.  He did say there are moves afoot to better the process.  I did point out to him that in the actual process there's no facility for an aural hearing in the legislation.  That can only take place if the appeals officer deems it's relevant so there's no real voice for an application or a family otherwise, and he agreed with that."

Audrey Molony, a director at the Wexford nursing home where Michael is "happy but bereft without his Kathleen" also joined Joe on the programme.  She is looking forward to getting started with Kathleen's pre-admission process as soon as possible and wishes Michael and Kathleen years of happiness together under her care.

For the full conversation, click here.