Skip to main content
Normal View

Nursing Home Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Questions (658)

Jack Wall

Question:

658. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health his views on a submission (details supplied); if the costs as outlined by a nursing home are within the guidelines of the legislation; if he is satisfied that a patient should be charged €3 per item in regard to delivery of samples and collection of prescriptions; if a person should have to pay for a care assistant at the rate of €10 per hour; if it is correct that a patient has to pay €15 per month for Health Information Quality Authority costs; if the stated payments are applicable if a person was an inpatient since 20 August 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9124/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme provides financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care services in nursing homes. The Scheme covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care, which are:-

- nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person,

- bed and board,

- basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living, and

- laundry service.

A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the Medical Card Scheme or the Drugs Payment Scheme, is unaffected by participation in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme or residence in a nursing home. Incontinence wear, where required, is provided free of charge by the HSE to all Nursing Homes Support Scheme residents that possess a Medical Card.

Part 8 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009 stipulates that the registered provider of the nursing home must agree a contract with each resident within one month of their admission. This contract must include details of the services to be provided to that resident and the fees to be charged. Residents should not be charged fees which are not set out in the contract.

The HSE is not a party to such contracts which are concluded between each resident and their nursing home.

All nursing homes must register with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and comply with the conditions and requirements laid down by HIQA in this context. Fees are payable by operators for initial application for registration, for variation or removal of any conditions of registration, and an annual fee is also payable by each registered provider.

As stated earlier, the Nursing Homes Support Scheme covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care, for which no additional charges should be levied on residents. As compliance with HIQA requirements, including payment of appropriate fees, is mandatory for all operators providing even these standard components of nursing home care, it is not clear how an additional charge for residents based on standard HIQA fees can be justified.

Furthermore, under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) negotiates the price for long-term residential care with private nursing home owners on behalf of the State. In the course of its negotiations, the NTPF factors in the fees associated with the registration and inspection of nursing homes as part of the reasonable day to day running costs associated with the provision of long-term residential care services.

Top
Share