asked the Minister for Health when the Midland Health Board will approve a nursing home (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
Written Answers. - Westmeath Nursing Home Approval.
402.
The sanction of the Midland Health Board is not necessary for the operation of this private nursing home, though they have power to inspect it to ensure that conditions in it are satisfactory. However I presume what the Deputy has in mind is the question of the home being approved by my Department under section 54 of the Health Act, 1970, so that patients cared for in the home would be entitled to receive a subvention from the health board towards their maintenance expenses there.
When a new private nursing home is opened and applies for such approval it is the practice of my Department to consult the appropriate health board to obtain their views on whether it should be approved. In this instance the Midland Health Board advised that there is already an adequate number of beds available in County Westmeath for the care of old people and that additional funds would be needed by the health board if this home were to be approved by me. This matter is under consideration in my Department.