Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Minister for Health the action being taken to ensure that older persons in residential settings have access to essential therapies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54085/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, services and supports which are common to the vast majority of nursing home residents are included in the cost of care. These are:

- nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;

- bed and board;

- basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and

- laundry service.

Goods and services that are already available to individuals under another existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme as this would involve effectively paying twice for the same thing. However, older people in residential settings are entitled to be referred and assessed for HSE Primary Care Teams and Network services in the same way as any other eligible person in the community.

The Care and Welfare Regulations for Nursing Homes provide that nursing homes shall ensure that all appropriate health care is facilitated, including access to services provided by HSE Primary Care Teams.

In 2012, the HSE completed an analysis of the distribution of health professionals who provide various therapies and other supports. This analysis revealed considerable variation across the HSE’s 17 Integrated Service Areas. Accordingly, in 2013, Primary Care funding of €20 million is being invested to support the recruitment of prioritised front-line primary care team posts and to enhance the capacity of the primary care sector.