Helpline on nursing home fees inundated with calls
The special helpline set up for people affected by the levying of illegal nursing home fees was inundated with calls when it opened at 9am this morning.
The helpline was set up for people who believe they are entitled to compensation arising out of the levying of fees on medical card holders in publicly funded long-term care.
The fees were introduced in 1976 and were only stopped late last year when the Attorney General warned that they were legally unsound.
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that an attempt by the Government to retrospectively legalise the charges and prohibit compensation claims was unconstitutional.
The Health Services Executive has apologised to people who were unable to get through to its helpline this morning and said there was no urgency in making contact as no deadline had been set.
The helpline number is 1800 77 77 37. It is open 9am - 5.30pm, Monday to Friday
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