Page 7 - Guerin Media Ltd | Nursing Homes Ireland Yearbook & Diary 2015
P. 7
CEO Address
Just four months into his term of office, Minister for Health Leo
Varadkar addressed over 350 delegates from the private and
voluntary nursing home sector at the NHI Annual Conference
2014. Media reports emanating from the conference understandably
focused on the Minister’s comments at the conference recognising the
significant numbers awaiting Fair Deal payment and the extraordinary
waiting period. Minister Varadkar stated requirement to increase
budget cap to bring the waiting list down.
What was also of significant importance of our sector in healthcare delivery, Members surveyed were reliant on
from a sector point of view was Minister informing delegates: “As you know the Fair Deal scheme and 74% stated
Varadkar’s commitment to work there are currently about 27,000 people their Fair Deal rate had decreased or
and engage with NHI in a positive in residential care and the majority remained the same over the previous
environment that would support of them are in private and voluntary three year period. Members outlined the
achievement together. The private and nursing homes. I think you can be very precarious financial challenges they have
voluntary nursing home sector is critical proud of the standards of your facilities, faced over the same period:
to healthcare delivery in Ireland. This was of the excellent service that you give
highlighted nationally in 2014 because to residents and their families, which • Commercial rates had increased
of the upward trend in the numbers allows older people to end their days in by 29%
of persons delayed discharged, which dignity and comfort.”
led to serious overcrowding within our We, as a sector, are very proud of the • Cost of Standards compliance
acute hospitals and significant decreases excellent standards and services that had risen by 32%
in elective admissions. At the source Minister Varadkar spoke of. However, it
of the problem was circa 75% of the is of critical importance that the Minister • 85% of respondents stated light
persons delayed discharge were assessed in acknowledging the excellence in care and heating costs had increased
as requiring long term care and awaiting provided by our members that he also
nursing home care. acknowledges the requirement for a • 87% stated nursing staff costs
The HSE illustrated the drip effect of ‘fair price for care’ in our sector that had increased
failure to support timely access to nursing will support the health and social care
home care in its July 2014 Performance befitting of older people. Nursing home • 72% stated increase in food
report, stating: “During 2014 there operators must receive a proper price costs
has been a continuous increase in the to remain viable – A ‘Fair Price for
number of people admitted as patients Care’ that recognises the true cost and • 61% increase in financing
to hospital emergency departments. In also provides return on investment. These sustained economic pressures
addition the number of people referred The model of funding must provide a exist within a sector that has a monopoly
for ‘elective’ procedures and out-patient sustainable basis for the delivery of high purchaser, the NTPF, acting on behalf
appointments has increased month on quality nursing home care and allow for of the State which is imposing a price
month, resulting in an increase in the ongoing investment in the sector. cap on the fee for private and voluntary
demand for acute patient beds. The This is a long-standing issue that is of nursing home care. The current fee fails
availability of acute hospital beds is critical importance to support delivery to recognise the true cost of meeting
constrained in that a significant number of health services in communities across the residential care requirements of an
of patients who are deemed medically Ireland. Its significance is evidenced ageing society.
fit for discharge are awaiting alternative from the IPSOS/MRBI survey of NHI
care arrangements in the community Members, the results of which were The long-awaited review of the Fair
in the form of long term nursing home published in October 2014 in an AIB Deal scheme must address the balance
care, respite or transitional care.” Outlook Report on Long Term Care. between ensuring ‘value for money’ and
At the NHI Annual Conference, Minister 89% of respondents within the 119 acknowledging the true costs of complex
Varadkar spoke of the importance care of persons in nursing homes. The
current ‘one-size-fits-all’ payment
model fails to acknowledge the complex
health and social care needs of residents
in nursing home care. NHI informed the
Continued on Page 7
7
Just four months into his term of office, Minister for Health Leo
Varadkar addressed over 350 delegates from the private and
voluntary nursing home sector at the NHI Annual Conference
2014. Media reports emanating from the conference understandably
focused on the Minister’s comments at the conference recognising the
significant numbers awaiting Fair Deal payment and the extraordinary
waiting period. Minister Varadkar stated requirement to increase
budget cap to bring the waiting list down.
What was also of significant importance of our sector in healthcare delivery, Members surveyed were reliant on
from a sector point of view was Minister informing delegates: “As you know the Fair Deal scheme and 74% stated
Varadkar’s commitment to work there are currently about 27,000 people their Fair Deal rate had decreased or
and engage with NHI in a positive in residential care and the majority remained the same over the previous
environment that would support of them are in private and voluntary three year period. Members outlined the
achievement together. The private and nursing homes. I think you can be very precarious financial challenges they have
voluntary nursing home sector is critical proud of the standards of your facilities, faced over the same period:
to healthcare delivery in Ireland. This was of the excellent service that you give
highlighted nationally in 2014 because to residents and their families, which • Commercial rates had increased
of the upward trend in the numbers allows older people to end their days in by 29%
of persons delayed discharged, which dignity and comfort.”
led to serious overcrowding within our We, as a sector, are very proud of the • Cost of Standards compliance
acute hospitals and significant decreases excellent standards and services that had risen by 32%
in elective admissions. At the source Minister Varadkar spoke of. However, it
of the problem was circa 75% of the is of critical importance that the Minister • 85% of respondents stated light
persons delayed discharge were assessed in acknowledging the excellence in care and heating costs had increased
as requiring long term care and awaiting provided by our members that he also
nursing home care. acknowledges the requirement for a • 87% stated nursing staff costs
The HSE illustrated the drip effect of ‘fair price for care’ in our sector that had increased
failure to support timely access to nursing will support the health and social care
home care in its July 2014 Performance befitting of older people. Nursing home • 72% stated increase in food
report, stating: “During 2014 there operators must receive a proper price costs
has been a continuous increase in the to remain viable – A ‘Fair Price for
number of people admitted as patients Care’ that recognises the true cost and • 61% increase in financing
to hospital emergency departments. In also provides return on investment. These sustained economic pressures
addition the number of people referred The model of funding must provide a exist within a sector that has a monopoly
for ‘elective’ procedures and out-patient sustainable basis for the delivery of high purchaser, the NTPF, acting on behalf
appointments has increased month on quality nursing home care and allow for of the State which is imposing a price
month, resulting in an increase in the ongoing investment in the sector. cap on the fee for private and voluntary
demand for acute patient beds. The This is a long-standing issue that is of nursing home care. The current fee fails
availability of acute hospital beds is critical importance to support delivery to recognise the true cost of meeting
constrained in that a significant number of health services in communities across the residential care requirements of an
of patients who are deemed medically Ireland. Its significance is evidenced ageing society.
fit for discharge are awaiting alternative from the IPSOS/MRBI survey of NHI
care arrangements in the community Members, the results of which were The long-awaited review of the Fair
in the form of long term nursing home published in October 2014 in an AIB Deal scheme must address the balance
care, respite or transitional care.” Outlook Report on Long Term Care. between ensuring ‘value for money’ and
At the NHI Annual Conference, Minister 89% of respondents within the 119 acknowledging the true costs of complex
Varadkar spoke of the importance care of persons in nursing homes. The
current ‘one-size-fits-all’ payment
model fails to acknowledge the complex
health and social care needs of residents
in nursing home care. NHI informed the
Continued on Page 7
7
