Private Nursing Homes fighting for survival - Lowry

Deputy Michael Lowry has told the Dail that the ongoing fight for the survival of Private Nursing Homes remains a serious issue. ‘Many are clinging on by their fingernails as they battle to make ends meet’ he said.

Deputy Lowry requested that the Minister sits down with Private Nursing Home Representatives to thrash out the issues and concerns that they have, to come to a conclusion, to secure the future of Private Nursing Homes for rural Ireland and, in particular, for the people he represents in Tipperary.

‘Rising costs across the board forced the closure of 17 Private Nursing Homes throughout last year, resulting in the loss of approximately 500 jobs. The disruption to families and the heartbreak caused to the elderly residents, who were forced to leave the place they called home, is immeasurable.

‘Nursing Home owners across Tipperary predict that national closures will rise significantly by the end of this current year. Nursing Home owners are burdened with doubt and worry about the future. It is now a fact that there are no surplus profits to meet the enormous increases in day-to-day costs or to satisfy HIQA demands and compliance standards

‘Not only will this result in a huge gap in the availability of Nursing Home care, but it will also make hundreds more people dependent on Social Welfare Payments.

‘In December, Nursing Homes Ireland, which represents Private Nursing Homes lodged a complaint with European Commission. They felt their voices were not being heard by Government.

‘They allege discrimination by the State under the Fair Deal Scheme in the resourcing of Private Nursing Home resident care as opposed to Public Nursing Home resident care.

‘At the present time Public Nursing Homes, run and staffed by the HSE, receive 62% more per resident per week than what is available to pay for the care of an elderly person in a Private Nursing Home. This equates to €627 per week more to provide Nursing Home care to a person in a Public Nursing Home as opposed to a person in a Private one.

‘It is on this basis that Nursing Home Ireland compounded their case to EU competitions officials.

‘Private Nursing Home owners have been asked to do the impossible for years. The rising costs for heating, lighting and food have made their hard-fought battle a lost cause.

‘Better pay in Public Nursing Homes means that staff, particularly essential Healthcare Assistants who account for half of the employees, leave the Private Homes if given the chance to work in Public Nursing Homes.

‘Few could dispute that, from a business perspective, this situation is unsustainable for Private Nursing Home owners.

‘Hospital overcrowding has thrown the spotlight on the importance of all Nursing Homes. These facilities are equipped to provide step-down, respite, rehabilitation and a continuation of care to many elderly people that no longer need to be hospitalised.

‘Just last month a survey showed that 70% of the country’s 440 private and voluntary nursing homes have capacity to facilitate discharges from hospitals. This allows for a faster turnover of hospital beds, while ensuring that patients receive a level of care they may be unable to receive at home.

‘80% of Nursing Home beds are in the Private Sector. If increasing numbers of Private Nursing Homes are forced to close their doors because they cannot meet costs, the pressure will remain on hospitals to provide prolonged care.

‘It is logical and sensible to provide the Private Nursing Home sector with sufficient funding to allow them to provide their vital service’ he stated.