Vol. 426 No. 5
315 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the present rate of subvention for short-stay convalscence in a nursing home after a period of hospitalisation; for short-stay convalescence in a nursing home; and if he will give details of his proposals to change these subventions during 1993.
The rate of subvention in a nursing home approved by the Minister for the payment of subvention under section 54 of the Health Act, 1970 is £52.15 per week in respect of each subvented person. This rate is the same whether the patient is receiving short-stay convalescent care or long-stay care.
Health boards may also make arrangements to subvent dependent persons under section 26 of the Health Act, 1970. This subvention is paid by arrangement between health boards and nursing homes. There is no fixed rate of subvention paid under this section. Rates vary with the circumstances of the patient and the care provided by nursing homes and the duration of the subvention may also vary depending on circumstances.
Under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, a health board may pay a subvention to a person who requires nursing care and who is unable to afford it, following an assessment by the health boards of the person's dependency, means and circumstances. The subvention may be paid towards the cost of care in a nursing home registered by a health board. It is my intention to commence the Act and introduce the new system of subvention later this year.
