Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 5

Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.

Michael Finucane

Question:

30 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some health boards are refusing to fund the long-term care of elderly people in health board registered nursing homes in circumstances where they originally funded their own long-term care in these nursing homes and where their own funding has run out on the grounds that a health board funding subvention was not sought at the date of admission to the nursing home concerned; if this is Government policy; and if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this approach is causing undue hardship to elderly people in nursing homes and their family members. [7770/99]

Alan Shatter

Question:

99 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some health boards are refusing to fund the long-term care of elderly people in health board registered nursing homes in circumstances where they originally funded their own long-term care in these nursing homes and where their own funding has run out on the grounds that a health board funding subvention was not sought at the date of admission to the nursing home concerned; if this is Government policy; and if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this approach is causing undue hardship to elderly people in nursing homes and their family members. [10490/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 99 together.

Article 4.3 of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993 provides that a person who commences residence in a registered nursing home after the date of commencement of the regulations, and who has not made an application for a subvention prior to his or her admission may not apply for a subvention sooner than two years from the date of his or her admission, unless the chief executive officer of the health board determines otherwise.

This provision is designed to ensure that health boards can assess the dependency of an applicant prior to entering a nursing home as a board may be able to arrange for the person concerned to be maintained at home. However, the regulations allow for exemptions from the provisions of Article 4.3 at the discretion of the chief executive officer of a health board. The chief executive officer may accept an application for subvention from a person after their admission to a nursing home where such admission is deemed to be an emergency.

The health boards have assured me that where people have been funding their own long-term care and these funds have run out, they are not refused a subvention where such a refusal would cause hardship. Alternatively, an offer of accommodation in a health board extended care facility may be made. I am satisfied that the chief executive officers exercise their discretion in a sympathetic manner but if the Deputy is aware of a particular case he would like me to look into, I will be happy to ascertain the facts and report back to him.