State accused of four decades of elderly care neglect

THOUSANDS of elderly people could be entitled to financial redress after a report by the Office of the Ombudsman concluded they have been deprived over four decades of their entitlement to nursing home care.

It claims the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health have shown “an unacceptable disregard for the law” by interpreting legislation over decades in a way to avoid having to fund the cost of residential care for elderly citizens.

Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly accused the health authorities of deliberately trying to prevent her from carrying out the inquiry.