TD voices concern over sustainability of nursing homes
""The future sustainability of Private and Voluntary Nursing Homes across the country is a rapidly growing concern. Owners and operators of these nursing homes are struggling to stay afloat. Many see no way forward," Deputy Michael Lowry told the Taoiseach, Michéal Martin during Leaders Question in the Dail on Tuesday.
"My office has been inundated with calls and correspondence from Nursing Homes across Tipperary. All are desperate for support to save their businesses. They are not making extravagant demands. They are simply seeking equality with Public Nursing Homes.
"Nursing home owners say that the kernel of the problem is the discrimination by the State under the Fair Deal Scheme in the resourcing of Private Nursing Home resident care as opposed to Public Nursing Home resident care. At present Public Nursing Homes receive 62% more per resident per week than what is available to pay for the care of an elderly person in a Private Nursing Home. Private Nursing Home owners are being tasked with doing the impossible and a growing number are holding on by their fingertips in the hope that their voices will finally be heard.
"Private Nursing Homes are providing elderly care for fees that are up to €700 less per resident per week than the amount allocated to their Public counterparts. It does not take a genius to see that, from a business perspective, there is no future for Private Nursing Homes in Ireland if this alarming discrepancy is not addressed urgently. There is also a significant differential in pay for HSE Healthcare Assistants versus Private and Voluntary Healthcare Assistants. Around one in every two employees in nursing homes are healthcare assistants. This pay differential is unfair and compounds the problem.
"Staff in these nursing homes are outstanding. They are under enormous pressure. Staff give their patients professional care and attention. Patients are treated like family members. Staff deserve to have their work properly valued.
"Negotiations have been ongoing with the NTPF for years. But the discussions seem to go around in circles – they are unending and unproductive.
"Private Nursing Home owners have spoken about the current and ongoing rise in the costs of heating, electricity and food. They are simply unable to absorb the increased costs of these necessities in the private sector. They must provide the same level of complex care that many elderly residents require. Yet, in contrast to Public Nursing Homes who have specialised needs provided at no cost by the HSE, Private operators must pay for services such as Chiropody, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and even basic medical equipment.
"Private and Voluntary Nursing Homes receive €990 a week per resident to provide care 365 days of the year. The Public Nursing Homes receive €1,600 per resident per week with the added advantage of all residents medical requirements being provided for by the HSE."
The Taoiseach replied: "As it transpires, Minister for Older People, Mary Butler, is meeting with the CEO on the National Treatment Purchase Fund, Mr Sloyan, to discuss the particular issues that you have raised. There is a variation in the costs incurred by Public and Private Nursing Homes, with public homes generally having higher costs due to higher staff to patient ratios. They would also be dealing with more complex cases in general. Older buildings and older infrastructure is also a factor for many Public units."
The Taoiseach referred to a Value for Money Review by the department that was carried out last December to identify and analyse any cost differential between Private and Public Nursing Homes. He said that 9 recommendations have come out of that Report and the HSE is working with the Department of Health and the NTPF to work through those recommendations. "I think the delivery of those would lead to an improvement in the overall value for money delivered by the Nursing Home Support Scheme," he said.
Deputy Lowry replied by saying he welcomed the fact that the minister is entering into further negotiations and discussions, but took issue with the remarks on the levels of care offered between Private and Public Nursing Homes. "I don’t accept that. The ongoing medical and personal needs of elderly residents are practically the same regardless of where they reside. And it certainly does not make any sense to me to say that it costs 62% less in a Private Nursing Home as opposed to a Public one. Not only is this not sustainable for Private operators, it is expecting them to perform a miracle.
‘"m saying to you today, Taoiseach, that if you don’t bring this matter to a conclusion and if it is not addressed successfully, the doors of Private Nursing Homes in every town and village across Ireland will be forced to close. Public Nursing Homes will not be able to meet the demand for elderly care. The most vulnerable members in society will be the victims. Government must act to correct the imbalance. I am asking that your Government act urgently to correct the imbalance that currently exists," concluded Deputy Lowry.