NHI: HSE plan for extra capacity in long-term care welcome but assurances required over Fair Deal
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) today, January 16th, acknowledged the commitment in the HSE Service Plan to provide financial support through the Fair Deal for an additional 1,270 long-term residential care places in 2012.
NHI said the additional capacity provision reflects significant increases in the demand for long-term residential care*. NHI has consistently made representations to the Government and the HSE regarding the challenges we, as a society, face in meeting our long-term care requirements and the provision of additional financial support for increased numbers of people for 2012 is a step in the right direction. It should also be noted the Plan projects support for 23,611 residents under the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal) for 2012. Last June, Minister James Reilly projected 24,000 people would be supported under the scheme for the year 2011.
“Nursing Homes Ireland has consistently highlighted the continual growing demand for long-term residential care and today’s commitment to provide an additional net 1,270 places goes some way towards acknowledging the demand there is for such specialised care,” Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO stated. “Long-term, specialised care provided by nursing homes in community settings is critical in meeting the needs of our population’s healthcare requirements and has a key role to play in alleviating the pressures on the acute hospital system.
” NHI expressed concern that the HSE itself recognises the level of funding being provided under Fair Deal may not be adequate to meet demand.
Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO, stated: “Fair Deal is the primary means of financial support for people who have been assessed as requiring nursing home care and we must ensure the resources are continually in place to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable. NHI has consistently warned of dangers of capping the finances provided under the scheme and we are calling on the HSE to continually inform NHI and the general public of the ongoing situation regarding the 2012 resource allocation and give a guarantee and assurance the problems that beset Fair Deal in 2011 and caused considerable distress amongst older people will not be repeated.
” The Service Plan is targeting the completion of all Fair Deal applications in a four-week period during 2012 and this is a very welcome and significant development. At present, people requiring nursing home care are experiencing significant delays in the processing of their applications and this is causing considerable strain and distress and adding to numbers within the acute hospital system who are occupying beds unnecessarily. Tadhg Daly stated: “This target of completing applications in a four week period must become a reality. The discharge of patients from hospitals to the appropriate, dedicated, specialised, community care nursing homes provide plays a key role in delivering greater efficiency within our health system and plays a lead role in relieving pressures on acute hospital settings.”
*The ESRI forecasts demand for long-term care places will grow by 13,324 from 2006 – 2021.
