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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subvention Scheme.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

68 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the average nursing home subvention paid in each health board area in 1994, having regard to the total number of approved patients in each health board area; the reason there is a discrepancy in the average cost of subvention for each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3087/95]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

91 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if the same standard information regarding the assessment of means under the nursing homes subvention scheme is given to all applicants in each health board area; and if this information includes a break-down of how this assessment was arrived at. [3359/95]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

92 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the average delay in processing applications under the nursing homes subvention scheme in each health board area. [3360/95]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

93 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he will review the operation of the nursing homes subvention scheme; if he will review the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3361/95]

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 91, 92 and 93 together.

A working group comprised of officials of my Department and of the health boards is currently reviewing the operation of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990. I hope to have the report of this group in the near future.

Article 8.1 of the subvention regulations obliges a health board to follow the procedures set out in the second schedule to the regulations when assessing the means of a person who has applied for a nursing home subvention. A standard application form is used by all health boards and copies of the subvention regulations, which describe how the assessment of means is carried out, are available at all health board offices.

The average nursing home subvention per week paid in each health board area in December 1994 was as follows:

Health Board

Number of approved subventions

Average subvention per week

£

Eastern Health Board

1,503

90.70

Midland Health Board

198

80.00

Mid-Western Health Board

660

71.05

North-Eastern Health Board

346

83.46

North-Western Health Board

380

89.08

South-Eastern Health Board

378

73.81

Southern Health Board

459

70.63

Western Health Board

482

69.88

The difference in the subvention rates reflects mainly the different levels of dependency of people applying for subventions.It may also reflect the extent to which health boards accommodate the most heavily dependent patients in their own hospitals and homes. However, this is one of the issues being examined in depth by the working group to which I referred earlier.
By the end of December 1994, 8,519 applications for a nursing home subvention had been received by the health boards. Of this total, 4,406 applications for subventions had been approved. Of the remainder, some have been withdrawn or are not being proceeded with. I have been informed by the health boards, that unless there is a delay due to the non-furnishing of information or lack of co-operation by the applicant or his or her family, nursing home subvention applications are processed within the eight weeks allowed under the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations.
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