Ombudsman welcomes HSE move on nursing home charge

THE HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) has agreed to reduce an elderly woman's nursing home charges so her daughter would be able to repay a credit union loan used to adapt the family home.

The daughter told the HSE she was suffering financial hardship because her mother's pension was no longer part of the household income.

Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly yesterday welcomed the HSE's decision and said she hoped the case would encourage others in similar circumstances to seek waivers.

The case came to Ms O'Reilly's attention when the daughter approached the Ombudsman's office after her mother had been refused a reduction in charges by the Health Service Executive.

She had cared for her mother in the family home for a number of years. Residential care was eventually required, however, and her mother entered a HSE public nursing home. Initially a maximum weekly charge of €120 was applied based on an assessment of the financial circumstances of her mother, who was in receipt of a contributory old-age pension.

The daughter complained to the HSE that as a consequence of this assessment, she was finding it difficult to manage financially as her mother's pension had formed part of the household income.

The HSE reduced the charge to €100. However, the daughter made a further appeal on the grounds that she had taken a credit union loan to pay for the installation of a stairlift and bathroom conversion for her mother. The HSE refused this appeal because the loan was taken in the daughter's name.

The daughter appealed this decision to the Ombudsman, who asked the HSE to review the case.

Ms O'Reilly said it was "unfair" the claim should be dismissed given the woman had done her best to provide care at home for her mother, and the loan had been taken in order to keep the elderly woman at home for as long as possible. The HSE agreed to reduce the charge to €76 per week.

Ms O'Reilly said she hoped the decision would help others.

"I want to put a spotlight on cases like this where waivers are granted by the HSE on grounds of financial hardship."