Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 May 1990

Vol. 399 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Patient's Maintenance.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

82 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he has received details from the Eastern Health Board in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who is a geriatric patient at Sallypark Nursing Home; and if he will make a statement regarding the demand of the board that any grants advanced by them towards this person's maintenance in Sallypark Nursing Home will be repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the patient's home, on foot of an irrevocable legal undertaking to that effect.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I have been in touch with the Eastern Health Board which is responsible for the payment of discretionary subventions towards the maintenance of patients in private nursing homes.

The practice in the Eastern Health Board area is, that where an applicant has assets including property of which he wishes to retain the use, the board seeks an undertaking that it may be recouped any moneys advanced towards the patient's maintenance costs on the eventual settlement of the estate.

An undertaking dated 5 March 1990 has been received by the board and I understand that this arrangement is acceptable to the person concerned.