Batt O'Keeffe
Question:54 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he intends to make nursing home subventions a demand-led scheme. [10066/96]
Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.
Limerick East): The Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990 which came into effect on 1 September 1993 has two principal objectives: first, to ensure high standards of accommodation and care in all registered nursing homes registered by health boards under the Act, and second to provide a new system of nursing home subvention so that dependent persons most in need of nursing home care would have access to such care.
Since the introduction of the subvention scheme on 31 March 1996, 8,231 subventions have been approved by the health boards. In the same period 354 nursing homes have been registered by the boards. The total annual cost of the scheme now stands at approximately £16 million.
The provision of nursing home subventions under the Act must be consistent with Health Strategy policy that, whenever possible, the elderly should be maintained in dignity and independence in their own homes. The scheme is not, therefore, a demand-led one but must be based on medical advice about the most appropriate care setting in individual cases.