Vol. 529 No. 2
113 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person who is a holder of a medical card is entitled to nursing home care under the health Acts; his views on the interpretation of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations by the health boards which resulted in persons being forced to find care in the private sector and to sell their homes in order to fund the charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2656/01]
The provision of nursing home care is governed by the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, and, in particular, section 7 of that Act which deals with payments by health boards towards costs of maintenance of dependent persons in nursing homes. The Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations 1993 to 1998 set down the requirements for the assessment of dependency and means for any person wishing to avail of a nursing home subvention under the scheme.
An expenditure review of the nursing home scheme is currently being undertaken by my Department in association with the Department of Finance and is expected to be completed shortly. The Deputy will be aware of the shortcomings in the operation of the scheme highlighted in the Ombudsman's recently published report and a number of measures have already been taken to deal with some of these problems. It is my intention to bring proposals to Government in relation to whatever further measures may be necessary arising from the findings of this review and the report of the Ombudsman and experience gained from the operation of the scheme since its inception in 1993.
