Patients overcharged

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has said the Health Services Executive (HSE) is overcharging for long-stay public nursing-home patients by taking their spouses income into account when calculating their fees. Emily O'Reilly said yesterday a woman complained the HSE has taken into account her income as well as that of her husband, who was admitted to a long-stay nursing home last year. This, she said, is in conflict with regulations introduced by the Department of Health last year although not with existing HSE guidelines.

In her annual report for 2005 the Ombudsman also highlights a complaint made by a patient concerning her post-operative care in a hospital in the west following surgery for breast cancer.

The woman claimed she had not been seen by her surgeon or members of his senior team for five days after the operation. Following unsatisfactory responses from the hospital and the CEO of the HSE Western Area the complainant contacted the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman was not happy with the way the HSE investigated the matter. She said there was no evidence that the patient/hospital records had been examined on foot of her complaint and it was only after she contacted the CEO that the patient's files were examined.

The complainant received an apology from the HSE, which accepted responsibility for the hardship and hurt caused.

The Ombudsman received a total of 2,243 valid complaints during 2005 compared to 2,064 in 2004. Of the complaints received, 19.9 per cent were related to the HSE; 42.9 per cent to civil service departments and offices; 33.3 per cent to local authorities and 3.8 per cent to An Post.

The Ombudsman also describes her new role under the Disability Act 2005 which has given her new powers to investigate complaints about compliance by public bodies and others regarding accessibility of buildings, information and services

Nóirín Bryne