Island's nursing, residential and home care system to undergo complete overhaul?

The way nursing, residential and home care is accessed and paid for on Island could soon see a complete overhaul.

It comes as Tynwald will be asked to support one of two new funding models - aimed to make the system 'fairer and more suitable' for both those who use it and their families. 

The Health and Care Transformation Team are now asking Tynwald to explore a ‘Free Personal Care’ model, and a ‘Mixed’ model.

The two were whittled down from six models originally considered, following public feedback back in 2018.

The ‘free personal care’ model would be similar to the current system in Scotland, where personal care is provided to people at no charge, regardless of their income or assets. 

Meanwhile, the ‘mixed’ model would be similar to the system in Jersey, based on a threshold and cap scheme, designed to protect the family home. 

Both require people to meet their own accommodation and living costs, with means tested support available to those who would struggle with those costs.

Currently, most people have to pay for their own social care with only people who are eligible for income support getting state support towards these costs.

It's estimated - in 2023 - there are 380 people in residential care homes, 450 in nursing care homes and 1,000 needing care at home.

Fees for residential and nursing care homes range from £555 - £1,338 per week.

Minister for Health and Social Care, Lawrie Hooper MHK, said: ‘It was recognised in 2018 that our current model of social care isn’t fair, and isn’t sustainable. 

I made a clear commitment in my manifesto to start reforming this unfair system. The Health and Care Transformation Team have been working hard to bring forward proposals to understand how the models would work on the Island, and with the support of Tynwald will be able to focus on producing in-depth models.

Over the coming years I expect that nursing, residential and home care funding and access on the Island will look fundamentally different to how it does today. I am hopeful that one of these models will bring a fairer and more accessible system to the Island.’

If Tynwald members back further investigation of the two models, public engagement will take place in the autumn.

We spoke to Mr Hooper about why he believes the current system isn't working: