Nursing home charges for cardholders
Deputy Munster complains that nursing home residents with full medical cards are being charged for medicines and therapies that are free in the community, and says this is discrimination. The Tánaiste says it appears to be a contractual and management issue for the homes and he will follow it up.
There are four Deputies remaining. I will give them each 30 seconds and block the four questions.
Comment on this
I want to raise the issue of residents in private nursing homes who have full medical cards but who are being made to pay for medicines which are free of charge to their fellow citizens who live ordinarily in the community. These residents are not being provided with basics such as wound management products free of charge. They are forced to pay for physiotherapy and occupational therapy, as well as speech and language therapy. When their family members raise concerns and objections to the charges, they are told quite bluntly that there are other service providers if they do not like the rules.
Comment on this
Elderly citizens with full medical cards have the exact same entitlements whether they live at home or in a nursing home under the fair deal scheme. This is blatant discrimination. Can nursing home contracts supersede the law, the rights and the entitlements of these residents in private nursing homes?
Comment on this
What will the Government do to stop this blatant discrimination? It is disgraceful and it has been going on for quite some time.