New figures show that thousands are being deprived of continuing care
Local authorities are still depriving elderly patients of free
long term NHS care, forcing them to pay for care home fees out of
their own pockets.
Despite eligibility guidelines being introduced and ombudsman
intervention, the number of people who have been wrongly assessed
by their primary care trust and left with a hefty bill for care
home fees as a result has risen dramatically.
The number of people who have been wrongly
assessed by their primary care trust and left with a hefty bill for
care home fees as a result has risen dramatically.
Assessments determine whether a person is eligible for
continuing care which is fully funded by the NHS, or nursing care
contribution where the NHS contributes towards some of the
fees.
However, thousands of people are incorrectly assessed leaving
them with only the nursing care contribution. This often barely
makes a dent in care home expenses, especially if the person's
health needs are serious and requires 24 hour care. This frequently
leads to elderly people having to plunge into their savings or sell
their homes to pay for their care.
Eligibility also often depends on where the patient lives
effectively creating a postcode lottery - something the new
guidelines were supposed to eradicate.
As figures released by the Government Equalities Office show, a
massive difference remains between the best and worst care trusts
in terms of the number of people receiving NHS continuing care per
50,000 population in the fourth quarter of the 2008-09 financial
year. Shropshire County care trust found 128.5 patients per 50,000
eligible for continuing care, but South East Essex had just 11.7
patients eligible. Similarly, Bournemouth and Poole care trust
assessed 126.2 patients in 50,000 as continuing care candidates,
but Heart of Birmingham care trust found 14.7 eligible.
As a result of this continuing care controversy thousands of
incorrectly assessed patients are getting reassessed, and many of
them end up being compensated as a result.
Just this month, Pauline Hardinges received
£30,000 after being incorrectly charged for her mother's
care.
Just this month, Pauline Hardinges received £30,000 after being
incorrectly charged for her mother's care.
Following a reassessment, Hardinges' mother Dorothy, an
Alzheimer's disease sufferer, was found to be eligible for free
continuing care.
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