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The Uk's Healthcare Law Service
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October 2009
Cambridge Alzheimers suffer awarded Continuing NHS Care funding
Pressure is growing on the Government to update guidelines on long-term care after a number of recent judgements found that social services were wrongly forcing patients to pay their own fees.
A case involving Barbara and Malcolm Pointon, which is supported by the Alzheimer's Society, was recently reassessed. It means they now qualify for NHS funding.
The couple took their case to the Health Services Ombudsman after the South Cambridgeshire NHS Primary Care Trust ruled that Malcolm, who has advanced Alzheimer's and is totally dependent on others, did not need nursing care. This means that the trust would not contribute to his care fees.
Meanwhile, Croydon pensioner Jean Woolley has received £25,000 compensation from Croydon Primary Care Trust after having to sell her home to pay for care fees. Jean, who suffers from severe physical disabilities, will now be funded by her local health authority.
These decisions come in the wake of a judgement by the Health Services Ombudsman that Dorset Health Authority should refund care fees paid by Stephen Squires on behalf of his father, another Alzheimer's victim.
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