Patients to pay for Fair Deal shortfall

LONG-STAY patients in some nursing homes are facing increased charges in order to make up a shortfall in funding for the Government’s Fair Deal scheme.

The processing of applications to Fair Deal — under which the patient makes a contribution to the cost of care and the state pays the balance — will resume from Monday.

An estimated backlog of 2,200 applications under the scheme will be processed, Health Minister James Reilly has pledged.