14.09.15
Department of Health to review NHS funding of private nursing homes
The Department of Health will review the rate the NHS pays nursing homes to assess whether it is “reflective” of the true costs of providing this service.
Registered nursing care for residents in nursing homes is funded by the NHS if they are assessed as eligible. The rate payable for this financial year to private nursing care providers is currently £112 a week per resident.
The review will now consider whether this rate is both reflective of the true costs of the service and if it supports high-quality out-of-hospital care.
The department is looking to complete the review in this financial year.
The decision follows several years of campaigning by Care England, which represents independent providers, for a review of the rate and the process used to determine the nationally-set figure.
It said it was “delighted” that the department will carry out a review of the “inadequate funding” for nursing, particularly following correspondence from and meetings with the organisation.
Professor Martin Green, chief executive of the organisation, said: “Care England will continue to liaise with the Department of Health as to the manner of the review and liaise with others in the nursing home sector on this extremely important issue.”
NHS-funded nursing care in registered homes was introduced by the Health and Social Services Act 2001.
In 2013-14, around 85,000 people received nursing home care supported by the NHS.
However, concerns over nursing shortages have been ongoing, especially under current immigration rules that difficult employment of overseas staff to help address agency costs and improve the quality of patient care.