I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 to 174, inclusive, together.
Decisions relating to individual public nursing homes are a matter for the Health Service Executive and those aspects of the Questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
In relation to the Deputy's question concerning the calculation of running costs of public and private nursing homes and the extent to which high dependency patients are referred to both the public and private sector I can advise that when the stage is reached where an older person can no longer remain at home, the State provides financial support through the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) for those who need long-term residential care. Participants contribute according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme, a key component of our health service involves very significant financial commitment on the part of the State.
Once a person's application to the NHSS is approved they can choose to enter any approved nursing home that has an available bed and can cater for their care needs. The applicant can choose a public, private or voluntary nursing home, and their level of contribution is unaffected by their choice of nursing home, regardless of the type of nursing home chosen or the cost of care.
The price to be paid for the provision of care in both private nursing homes and section 39 voluntary nursing homes is negotiated facility by facility by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), and these agreed prices are the basis for the financial support payable by the HSE under the NHSS. The NTPF is independent in the performance of its function.
The NTPF has no role in setting or negotiating prices for public facilities. The maximum prices to be paid in public facilities, and referred to as the cost of care, are set by the HSE and are published on the HSE website. The cost for each public nursing home is determined using the definition of long-term residential care services underpinned by an agreed set of cost components which have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
