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15/01/2002
Minister announces free nursing care for elderly residents
Health Minster Bairbre de Brún has announced her intention to introduce free nursing care for elderly residents of nursing homes from October of this year.
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) Minister Bairbre de Brún announced her intention to introduce free nursing care in nursing homes on Tuesday January 15.
The Minister explained that the provision of £4.5 million in the revised budget for 2002/03 would fund the extra cost following the passage of necessary legislation through the Assembly.
At present there are about 2,000 residents paying the full cost of nursing home care, and it is these who will initially benefit from the introduction of free nursing care from October 2002.
Ms de Brún said: “This is an important development that I know will be widely welcomed.”
The Minister also confirmed that the Department is currently working to develop an appropriate assessment process. She said: “The assessment process must be seen to be fair, easy to understand and with the minimum of bureaucracy. An advisory group of health professionals, led by Ms Judith Hill, the Chief Nursing Officer, is now involved in the testing of an assessment tool being developed by the University of Ulster.”
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Sue Ramsey has welcomed the announcement as “good progress”. Ms Ramsey, said the current costly process was both “unfair and the cause of stress and hardship” and that the introduction of free nursing care would importantly “benefit almost 2,000 people”. (AMcE)
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) Minister Bairbre de Brún announced her intention to introduce free nursing care in nursing homes on Tuesday January 15.
The Minister explained that the provision of £4.5 million in the revised budget for 2002/03 would fund the extra cost following the passage of necessary legislation through the Assembly.
At present there are about 2,000 residents paying the full cost of nursing home care, and it is these who will initially benefit from the introduction of free nursing care from October 2002.
Ms de Brún said: “This is an important development that I know will be widely welcomed.”
The Minister also confirmed that the Department is currently working to develop an appropriate assessment process. She said: “The assessment process must be seen to be fair, easy to understand and with the minimum of bureaucracy. An advisory group of health professionals, led by Ms Judith Hill, the Chief Nursing Officer, is now involved in the testing of an assessment tool being developed by the University of Ulster.”
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Sue Ramsey has welcomed the announcement as “good progress”. Ms Ramsey, said the current costly process was both “unfair and the cause of stress and hardship” and that the introduction of free nursing care would importantly “benefit almost 2,000 people”. (AMcE)
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