A call for the Government to widen its definition of free nursing care for the elderly has been issu...
A call for the Government to widen its definition of free nursing care for the elderly has been issued by the UK's largest nursing union, UNISON.
UNISON's response follows the Government's latest consultation paper on its plans for free nursing care, published in July this year. The plans proposed that people who need nursing care will be entitled to a maximum of just £110 per week towards costs.
In a letter to Jacqui Smith, minister of state at the Department of Health, Keith Sonnet, deputy general secretary at UNISON, said both nursing and personal care should be provided free by the NHS. This would prevent the elderly from having to sell their homes, but also would not put unfair responsibility on nursing staff, who have to decide how much free care patients can receive.
Sonnet said: 'Many elderly people are scared about selling their homes to pay for nursing care. UNISON is concerned that the proposals represent a diminution of the Government's commitment to make care in nursing homes free.
'Provision should be based on need and the NHS should meet the full cost of an individual's nursing and health care with no artificial cap on that provision. Nurses determining how much free care a patient receives will compromise their relationship with patients.'
The issues raised by UNISON mirror those aired by the LTC industry, who have said more substantial funding by the Government for nursing care would help reduce the extent of cover needed, lower premiums and make cover more accessible.
