Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the weekly cost of each public nursing home under the fair deal scheme; the corresponding cost of each private run home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39974/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 defines "long-term residential care services" as maintenance, health and personal care services.

Under the Act, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has responsibility for the negotiation of prices for the provision of long-term residential care services with private nursing home providers. This price negotiation is based on the definition of "long-term residential care services" as set out in the Act and on the supplementary policy information provided by the Department as follows: bed and board, nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person, laundry service, and basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living.

The cost for each public nursing home has been determined using the definition of "long-term residential care services" underpinned by an agreed set of cost components which has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The cost components are consistent with the supplementary policy information outlined above but differ in format in order to mirror existing cost coding structures within the HSE. The cost components are as follows: Pay Related Services - Management/ Administration Staff directly involved in running the relevant facility; Nursing Staff directly involved in managing and providing health and personal care services within the relevant facility; Health Care Assistants, Attendants and equivalent grades directly involved in providing health and personal care services within the relevant facility; Porters, Catering, Laundry and Housekeeping Staff directly involved in maintaining the relevant facility and its residents; Maintenance/ Technical Staff directly involved in maintaining the relevant facility.

The staff costs listed above shall include pay, including any overtime and allowances, and Employer's PRSI. Non-Pay Related Goods and Services: Basic clinical consumables, including: basic bandages; basic, non-medicated dressings; swabs; aseptic packs; syringes and needles; sterile gloves, wipes, aprons etc.; hip protectors and disposable underwear; sharps box; catheters; drainage bags and leg bags; tubing for oxygen, feeding pumps etc.; Oxygen; Catering; Heat, Power and Light; Cleaning and Washing; Upkeep of Furniture, Equipment, Crockery and Hardware - Costs under this heading are capped at a maximum of €7,000 per annum; Bedding and Clothing; General Maintenance - This item encompasses only regular maintenance works and service contracts with an annual value of €7,000 or under; Education and Training directly related to health and long-term care and undertaken by staff directly involved in the provision of care within the relevant facility - This item excludes pre-registration training and it is also capped at a maximum of 4% of the gross cost of direct salaries for the relevant facility; Insurance (public liability, employer's liability and property); Audit; Office Expenses Rent / Rates directly attributable to the relevant facility - costs under this heading are capped at a maximum of €7,000 per annum; Miscellaneous - this cost category is capped at a maximum of 2% of the overall non-pay expenditure per annum in accordance with existing HSE accounting principles.

As regards the exact weekly cost of care in each public, private and voluntary nursing home, unfortunately the tables are too lengthy to replicate in this response. Therefore, I would refer the Deputy to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme page of the HSE's website where they have been published: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/Older_People_Services/nhss/costs.html.