Nursing home sector costs
Deputy McNamara highlighted pressure on small nursing homes from energy, labour and inflation costs and questioned the payment gap with HSE homes. Minister Mary Butler said substantial funding is being provided, she would raise the Mayo concerns, and the cited value-for-money review relied on too small a sample.
This morning, Deputy Marian Harkin and I organised a meeting for representatives of the nursing home sector. They are under pressure. They are small family-run, community-owned and not-for-profit nursing homes. While the Government provided some additional supports, they were nothing like the increase in the cost of living and energy costs they have to meet or the additional labour costs they have to meet.
On the other hand, there is a huge gulf between what HSE-run nursing homes and private nursing homes, respectively, are paid per patient. The gulf is justified by the claim that HSE-run nursing homes deal with patients with a greater degree of complexity. However, that was not borne out by the Government's value-for-money report. Is there any basis for the assertion that HSE-run nursing homes have patients with greater complexity than do private homes and, if so, what is the proof of that? Where is the basis for the assertion? There is a huge difference in the amounts paid per patient. In County Clare, there is an approximately 60% difference between what private nursing homes and HSE-run homes receive.
Comment on this
I was not in a position to attend the meeting the Deputy referenced but my adviser was there. I am meeting Dr. Cowley later this afternoon to discuss the concerns he raised regarding the situation in Mayo. In 2023, €1.4 billion will be provided to support 22,700 residents in the nursing home sector. That is more than what I am giving for mental health-----
Comment on this
The Minister of State is not answering the question I asked.
Comment on this
If the Deputy gives me an opportunity to answer, I will try to do so. A total of €1.4 billion will be spent to support 22,700 residents in nursing home care this year. That is more than the amount allocated to mental health for the whole year. Regarding the value-for-money review the Deputy mentioned, the sample used was very small. It referred to five nursing homes and does not stand up.
Comment on this
Where is the proof that we are talking about patients with a greater complexity? That is my question to the Minister of State.