Vol. 530 No. 5
123 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason incontinence pads are available to medical card holders for use at home, in an Eastern Health Board nursing home or any care situation except in private care; the way in which this regulation came about; the legislative backup for this regulation; if he will now abolish this regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4365/01]
The provision of services to those in private nursing homes is governed by the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990 and Regulations made under that Act.
Article 16.1 of the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993 provides that individuals resident in nursing homes who are in receipt of a subvention from the health board may not be charged extra for any service which is considered to be essential to the maintenance of a person in a nursing home and common practice in most nursing homes. Such services include bed and board, nursing care appropriate to the level of dependency of the person, incontinence wear and bedding, laundry services and appliances necessary to assist a dependent person with the activities of daily living.
An expenditure review of the scheme is currently being undertaken by my Department in association with the Department of Finance and is expected to be completed shortly. It is my intention to bring forward proposals to Government in relation to whatever additional measures may be necessary arising from these reports and experience gained from the operation of the scheme since its inception in 1993.
