Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:397. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27507/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 7 July 2015
Ceisteanna (397)
Freagraí scríofa
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. To manage the available funds through the year, the HSE operates a national placement list in order of when applications are approved. Funding is released in strict chronological order as it becomes available.
The Budget for the Scheme in 2015 is €993m, an increase of €54m from the 2014 position .
In order to be an ‘approved nursing home’ for the purposes of the NHSS, all private and voluntary nursing homes must negotiate and agree a price for the cost of care with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). This is a necessary feature of the Scheme due to the commitment by the State to meet the full balance of the cost of care over and above a person's contribution. The NTPF has statutory independence in the performance of this function and, in carrying it out, it must ensure value for money for both the individual and the State. If price negotiations break down a three stage review process, developed by the NTPF, can be invoked. Details of the process are set out on the NTPF website.
The review of the Scheme is almost completed and is expected to be published shortly. This review considered the Scheme’s long term sustainability as well as looking at how well the current model of provision is balancing residential care with care in the community, and whether this needs to be adjusted to better reflect what older people want.
Nurses who trained in a country outside of Ireland and wish to work in Ireland are required to apply to register as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). In assessing an applicant for registration, to protect the public, the NMBI seeks evidence from applicants of comparable standards of education and practice. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) the timeframe for the completion of the assessment of qualifications for registration takes up to a maximum of 90 days provided all necessary documentation has been supplied by the applicant. The main difficulty to expediting timely applications as reported by the NMBI is that of delay/failure by the applicant or third parties to furnish the necessary documentation required to assess eligibility for registration and the overall volume. It is important to note that the NMBI are dealing with very significant volumes of applications at present. The NMBI are processing all applications as quickly as possible, while ensuring appropriate procedures and checks which are designed around protection of the public.
NMBI, following assessment of qualifications by an applicant, may require an applicant nurse or midwife to undertake a period of adaptation and assessment, which if required, must be successfully completed as a pre-requisite to registration. This clinical adaptation period may last between 6-12 weeks.
Clinical adaptation is a process of adjustment and assessment to support candidates who have not worked in the Irish health system previously. NMBI require that adaptation takes place in an appropriate setting approved by the Board and within a certain timeframe. The minimum timeframe for completing the period of adaptation and assessment is six weeks. Any site that has approval for students or wishes to seek approval as a new site to be considered for adaptation and assessment purposes needs to submit a request, with supporting documentation, directly to NMBI and NMBI will review accordingly. NMBI has to date received one such request from a nursing home facility – a decision on same has yet to be reached.
A collaborative group including the Department of Health, HSE, NMBI and Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) representatives have met to explore solutions to facilitate adaptation and registration delays. Proposals were agreed which will now be implemented and should result in an improvement in the difficulties currently being experienced.
With regard to workforce planning, Action 46 of Future Health (DoH, 2012) provides for the Department to work with the HSE to implement an effective approach to workforce planning and development with the objectives of: recruiting and retaining the right mix of staff; training and upskilling the workforce; providing for professional and career development; and creating supportive and healthy workplaces.
In 2015, the Department of Health will develop a national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning, on a cross-sectoral basis. A cross-sectoral Working Group will be convened to develop the framework in the near future. The Group's deliberations will take into account issues including population aging. Consultation with key stakeholders will form part of the Group's work.