The Left Bloc (BE) Madeira has called on the Regional Government to clarify how many of the 329 new care home beds planned under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) will be covered by cooperation agreements with the Madeira Social Security Institute (ISSM), and how many will be operated privately.
In a statement issued today, the party said the revised RRP provides €52.1 million for elderly care facilities, covering 582 places. Of these, 253 relate to existing beds, and 329 will be newly created.
However, the BE argues that an increase in beds does not necessarily mean a corresponding increase in publicly supported care places.
The party cited the Santa Clara Social Complex, which received €13.3 million in RRP funding. According to the BE, the facility provides 85 residential care beds: 20 publicly supported places, 15 reserved for hospital discharges and 50 operated privately. The party claims that monthly fees for some assisted-living accommodation exceed €5,000.
The BE also referred to Lar do Til, which it said received approximately €4.6 million under the RRP to create 44 beds. According to the party, the facility was presented at its inauguration as a private care home giving priority to members.
In light of these examples, the party wants the Regional Government to explain what public-access requirements are imposed on institutions receiving public funding to construct or expand care facilities. It has also asked whether limits have been placed on the monthly fees charged for privately operated beds.
“A new bed is not necessarily a publicly supported place. Those funding its construction have the right to know what public provision is being received in return,” the party said.
The BE is seeking details of how many of the 329 new beds will be included in cooperation agreements with the ISSM, how much RRP funding is being used for privately operated facilities or beds, and how much Social Security will subsequently contribute towards the publicly supported places.
It has also asked how many people remain on waiting lists for residential care.
The statement, signed by regional coordinator Dina Letra, raised further concerns about Lar da Bela Vista. The party said the facility was transferred to private management in August 2022 and received €17 million in RRP funding for refurbishment. It claims that the work has yet to produce improvements and that residents’ conditions have deteriorated.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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