North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has raised concerns with the Health Minister that nursing homes in North Wales are disadvantaged in comparison with elsewhere when it comes to Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Funding .
Mr Isherwood raised the issue with Health Minister Vaughan Gething during yesterday’s virtual Plenary meeting of the Welsh Parliament and expressed concerns that although Continuing Healthcare funded residents have more complex needs, there has been no mention of an up-lift related to COVID-19.
Speaking from his home in North Wales, Mr Isherwood, said:
“Nursing Homes are receiving a temporary fee increase for Adult Social Care placements, but this excludes Health Board funded placements.
“With regard to Continuing Healthcare Funding, Care Forum Wales has highlighted that Nursing Homes in North Wales are disadvantaged by comparison with elsewhere.
“How do you therefore respond to sector concern there that although Continuing Healthcare funded residents have even more complex needs, there has been no mention of an up-lift related to COVID-19?”
Responding the Health Minister told Mr Isherwood that, the Welsh Government have regular dialogue with Care Forum Wales regarding nursing home fees and that “We'll continue to talk with them about what's possible as we continue to review what we're able to do across the whole of our response to the pandemic. If the evidence changes, we'll be happy to change the position we're in and, of course, the way that we use the resources available to us”.
Mr Isherwood added: “As one Care Forum Wales member told me ‘The issue for the north is about fairness – nobody understands why North Wales has been allowed to be treated so unfairly by comparison with South Wales’. As another wrote, ‘Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have made no communication regarding increased fees for COVID-19 Continuing Healthcare residents, nor has the Welsh Government Department of Health’. Will this Minister ever show them some respect and start listening?”.