Elderly man overcharged by HSE for nursing home stay

An elderly man who was charged more than his income to stay in a nursing home is to be compensated by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

An elderly man who was charged more than his income to stay in a nursing home is to be compensated by the Health Service Executive.

Under regulations in place since 2005, long-stay residents can only be charged on the basis of their own income or pension.

However, this man was paying fees that also took his wife's income into account.

His case is one of more than 2,200 valid complaints received by the Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, last year.

Speaking following the publication of her annual report for 2005 today, Ms O'Reilly said she did know if the incident was isolated of if more elderly couples have been overcharged.

She said she would be asking the HSE to look into the matter and to provide compensation for anyone who was wrongly charged.