NHI welcomes extension of Covid19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme

Tuesday June 30, 2020

30th June 2020: Nursing Homes Ireland welcomes Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announcement the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme to support nursing homes in preventing and managing Covid19 will be extended to September 2020. Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO states: “Covid19 continues to present a very real threat to the lives of people in our nursing homes and remains the preeminent public health issue in our communities. Nursing homes continue to undertake heightened emergency measures to prevent and manage the lethal virus. Thankfully, the majority of nursing homes have not had Covid19 cases present and four out of every five residents who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. This is testament to the outstanding care provided by nursing home staff on the Covid frontline and they have been supported by stringent public health measures that have been implemented in nursing homes. We owe thanks to family and friends of residents who have supported the measures in the most difficult of circumstances. The extraordinary measures are not factored into Fair Deal and the Covid assistance scheme has provided important financial support to nursing homes to enable them meet substantive costs that continue to arise. Today’s announcement by Minister Donnelly is welcome and we look forward to consistent engagement with him in the weeks ahead as we continue to protect people in our nursing homes from a worldwide pandemic.”

ENDS

Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO is available for further comment. Contact Michael McGlynn, NHI Communications & Research Executive at 087 9082970.