Inquiry call on State care home costs

NURSING Homes Ireland yesterday repeated its call for the Public Accounts Committee to investigate the cost of care in HSE premises.

It follows the publication on February 23 by the health service of the fees payable to it under the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal).

They reveal State units are paying themselves up to €2,399 for care per week – up to three times the level of fees payable in private and voluntary nursing homes.

NHI chief Tadhg Daly said: “Somebody needs to shout stop and question how public funds are being utilised within State homes.”