Kirsty calls on Powys relatives to beat deadline on claims for continuing care (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Kirsty calls on Powys relatives to beat deadline on claims for continuing care

September 23, 2009 12:00 AM

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have discovered that the families of patients who have been in residential or nursing homes or are being cared for elsewhere for long term illnesses such as Alzheimer's since before April 2003 have until 4th December 2009 to lodge claims with their local health board to recover the costs of continuing medical care.

The deadline is tucked away on the Welsh Government website but there appears to have been no attempt by Ministers to publicise it or to encourage claims despite the fact that many families will have paid out tens of thousands of pounds in care costs and have had to sell their relative's homes to find the money.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats believe that there are hundreds of people in Wales who could be eligible to claim for continuing care. One firm of solicitors has over 900 cases on its books, the vast majority of which are in Wales. In many cases patients have not had the continuing care assessment they are entitled to and as a result medical costs are being paid by themselves or their relatives rather that the Government.

Kirsty Williams said:"There is a great deal of confusion and lack of information on this issue which has meant that many people are struggling to raise large sums of money to pay for care when they should not need to."

"In England there is a national framework setting out clear criteria for health bodies to follow. The equivalent is not available in Wales. The Welsh Government has added to this confusion by introducing an arbitrary deadline for claims and then not publicising it, instead putting it on an obscure part of their website."

"I would urge families whose relatives are in long term care and particularly those in residential homes to find out their rights and submit a claim to Powys Local Health Board as soon as possible. Please get in touch if you want my assistance. The Government should not be allowed to ignore its legal obligations on this issue."