Northern Ireland has become the final part of the UK to reduce the cost of nursing care in care home...
Northern Ireland has become the final part of the UK to reduce the cost of nursing care in care homes, a year after England introduced the initiative in October 2001. The Health and Personal Social Services Act received the Royal Assent on 4 October, and came into effect on 7 October. The new system means individuals who are fully or partly funding the cost of nursing care in care homes could see their bill decrease by over a quarter.
The initiative will see those in Northern Ireland assessed as needing nursing care in a care home receive up to £100 a week from their local health board. The average cost of a nursing home in Northern Ireland, in April 2002, was £377 a week, which means the system could reduce the weekly cost to £277 ' an annual reduction of £5,200. The payment is not means- tested and will be paid directly to the home.
The new system mirrors that in Wales, which also offers a £100 a week flat rate. England currently operates a banded system which sees those in need of nursing care receive £35, £70 or £110 a week, depending on the level of care required. A £65 a week flat rate is offered in Scotland, with an additional £145 a week for personal care.
Chris Ellicott, legal and technical manager at Age Concern Financial Partnerships believes the move highlights the significance of long term care insurance. 'People need to be aware the Government will never pay the full cost of care in the home, or in a nursing home. That means those with a regular income from a pension or those with a savings account will have to pay for a proportion of the cost themselves. However, if they had an insurance plan that catered for this, they will know that the costs would be covered by their provider, freeing up their finances for other options.'
