AQW 4135/09

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 16/01/2009
Answered On Date: 02/03/2009
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what progress has been made preparing for the introduction of free personal care; and for his assessment of whether it will be implementation in 2010.

Answer:

My officials conducted the cost update on free personal care which I promised in the Assembly debate on 29 May 2007. I have considered this issue very carefully against the competing priorities I face across the health service and have concluded that free personal care in residential and nursing homes is not affordable within the current CSR period. I will, however, keep the issue under review.