Trim councillor calls for faster processing of Fair Deal applications

Trim Councillor Ray Butler has called on the HSE to speed up the processing of applications for the Fair Deal Scheme, so that people who want to move to nursing homes are not taking up hospital beds unnecessarily. The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, also known as the Fair Deal Scheme. is a new scheme of financial support for people who need long-term nursing home care, which replaces the Subvention Scheme that was in existence since 1993. Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, the person going into nursing home care makes a contribution towards the cost of their care and the State pays the balance, whether the nursing home is public, private or voluntary. Cllr Butler said he knows of people who want to go to nursing homes but are being held back because their applications have not yet been processed. "I am getting it on the ground that people are being kept in hospital beds because of the Fair Deal application scheme being so slow," he said. "I know of families who are waiting to get someone into a home and, in one case, it is 10-12 weeks since they submitted their application and it has still not been finalised. I am urging the HSE to speed up the process in this county," said Cllr Butler. He said that hospitals are overcrowded at times and that there are people on trolleys in A&E when beds could be freed up. "I know it is a new system but I am urging the HSE to make sure they have enough staff to speed up the application process. Even six weeks is too long a time for someone to take up a hospital bed, if they could be moved on to a home," the Trim councillor added. A spokesperson for the HSE confirmed that, to date, 325 applications for the Fair Deal Scheme have been received in Meath and that 261 of these applications have been processed to date, with 53 applications awaiting further information from families. A further 41 applications are awaiting medical/financial assessment and a further 23 applications are due to be processed. According to the HSE, the average length of time to process an application in Meath is six weeks. The spokesperson said that, nationally, applications are taking four to six weeks to process with more complex applications taking approximately six to eight weeks to process. Processing times vary due to the legal complexities of applications for the nursing home loan, the HSE added. Applications are made to local nursing home support offices on a standard application form and there are three steps to the application process. A care needs assessment is completed to identify whether long-term nursing home care is needed. The application for State support is used to complete the financial assessment to determine the applicant's contribution to their care and the corresponding level of financial assistance. Both these steps must be completed by all applicants. The third step is an optional step which should be completed if the applicant wishes to apply for the Nursing Home Loan. The application form should be completed and signed by the person applying for nursing home care. However, in certain cases, another person may apply on their behalf. For further information, visit www.hse.ie or contact the nearest local health office.