Two complainants tell their stories
“Public versus private care is totally and utterly discriminatory
“In December 2005 the HSE finally provided a contract bed for her in . . . this happened after six years of negotiation. The situation of public versus private care is totally and utterly discriminatory. My neighbour has a loved one in a public care centre and I have my mother in a private home.
My neighbour is being paid back for being overcharged by the State and . . . this is being refused to me just because the State forced my mother into private care because they couldn’t provide it. This is totally discriminatory to the Constitution of this State which states all citizens are of equality.
I don’t know if the office of the ombudsman can take this case forward . . . to recover our losses which stand between €80,000 and €85,000. If this can’t be progressed via these means the only way forward is through the courts.”
Complaint – October 2007
“It has cost us over £35,000 and all our savings have disappeared
“My mother has been in the private] nursing home for the past 10 years.
She is a widow with no assets (she only had a rented house). She is 93 years of age . . . As a family we have been making up the shortfall [between nursing home fees and health board subvention] for the past 10 years. My husband and I are both over 60 years of age, and he needs to retire shortly. I am a full-time housewife and do not work myself.
In the past 12 months we have paid over £6,500 [to the nursing home]. During the course of the past 10 years, it has cost us over £35,000 and all our savings have disappeared.
At present we are trying to place my mother in a cheaper nursing home but unfortunately due to her age, infirmity and dependence, it is proving very difficult.”
Complaint – February 2001