Vol. 469 No. 3
28 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the changes, if any, which have been made to the regulations in respect of granting subvention under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17189/96]
Three changes have been made to the subvention scheme under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990 by amending regulations which came into effect on 31 July 1996.
The first change increases the threshold above which the circumstances of a son or daughter are assessed by a health board to establish if he or she is in a position to contribute towards the cost of care in a nursing home of a parent who has qualified for a nursing home subvention. This amendment will have the effect of reducing the amount of time spent by health boards in assessing the circumstances of sons or daughters who are clearly not in a position to contribute towards the nursing home costs of a parent.
The second change is to permit health boards to contract beds in nursing homes above the number contracted on 1 September 1993 and to pay more than the maximum rates of subvention in such cases. This amendment is to facilitate health boards which do not have sufficient accommodation in their hospitals and homes to meet the needs of those requiring nursing care and which have traditionally relied on the nursing home sector to meet this need.
Finally, an amendment was made to the regulations to clarify the manner in which health boards, instead of paying a subvention to a person who qualifies for a subvention and who was not resident in a nursing home on the day the Act was commenced, may offer accommodation in a health board institution providing nursing care.
