Private nursing homes have accused the Government of undermining the sector with a plan to withdraw Covid funding for enhanced infection controls and staffing at the end of the month.
Nursing Homes Ireland, the industry group that represents the sector, says the decision jars alongside comments by Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Dáil on Tuesday about a ânew relationshipâ with private and voluntary nursing homes
The group has written to the Taoiseach, asking for an urgent meeting, stating the Government decision to phase out supports creates a âcliff edgeâ for care homes.
The industry says the move to discontinue the Temporary Assistance Payments Scheme (Taps) comes amid continued concerns about new variants of Covid19 emerging and longer-term warnings of a fourth wave as the economy reopens. Nursing Homes Ireland says the withdrawal of financial support flies in the face of the Governmentâs Covid-19Nursing Homes Expert Panel recommendations.
Press release
Minister for Health and Minister for Mental Health and Older People welcome funding to further support safe visiting spaces in Nursing Homes
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD and the Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, have today welcomed funding to further support nursing homes to enhance and create additional safe visiting spaces.
Given the importance of facilitating visiting over the Winter period and over Christmas, the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) has been expanded on a once-off basis to allow a claim of up to €2,500 per eligible nursing home. This will enable them to create additional safe visiting spaces and enhance current visiting spaces.