James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health and Children how she expects the National Treatment Purchase Fund to negotiate the cost of private beds on behalf of the Health Service Executive in the absence of nursing home care standards [28075/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds that will be standard beds in regard to the intention of the National Treatment Purchase Fund to negotiate the cost of private beds on behalf of the Health Service Executive; the number that will be medium and high dependency beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28076/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.

The present standards for nursing homes are set out in the 1993 Care and Welfare Regulations and the HSE inspects private nursing homes on the basis of these standards. On 29th February 2008, HIQA submitted "Draft Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People" to the Minister for Health and Children for approval and these are currently under consideration. Once introduced, these standards will apply to all nursing homes — public, private and voluntary.

The NTPF's negotiating role under the proposed Nursing Home Support Scheme- A Fair Deal- will be an ongoing one. The price agreed with private nursing homes for the purposes of the scheme will naturally be subject to periodic re-negotiation to take account of inflation and other developments. Accordingly, the NTPF will negotiate with private nursing homes based on the existing regulatory regime and market conditions at the time of negotiation.

Finally, under the scheme, the care needs assessment will determine whether a person needs long-term residential care. It will not categorise people as low, medium, high or maximum dependency. A person assessed as needing long-term residential care will then be able to choose any nursing home, public or private, subject to availability and suitability of the home to meet the person's care needs. As such, the designation of beds as standard or high dependency will not be a feature of the scheme.