To ask the Minister of Health to detail the policy on charging top-up fees, or third party charges, to care home residents when (i) there is only one accommodation option on the day they sign their contract; and (ii) there are two or more accommodation options.

The policy on charging top-up fees, or third party charges is detailed in Departmental guidance ECCU 1/2010 ‘Care Management, Provision of Services and Charging Guidance’ (https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/dhssps/hsc-eccu-1-2010.pdf).

This states that HSC Trusts must contract for placements at the most competitive rate available, which it considers suitable for meeting the individual’s assessed need, even where this is not obtainable at the regional rate. Where a Trust has contracted at that rate there is no top-up.

Should a service user select accommodation which is more expensive than other appropriate accommodation which the HSC Trust can secure at a lower rate (for example, because they wish to have a better room in a particular home or a more expensive care home), the HSC Trust will facilitate that choice, but the additional cost must be met by a third party such as a family member of friend. This is what is known as a top-up.

Whilst the aim should always be to facilitate choice for service users’, Trusts have a parallel responsibility to secure the best value for money and protect the public funds for which they are accountable.