IRISH psychiatric nurses have warned that greedy relatives are searching out mentally ill patients in a bid to get a slice of the nursing home refunds.

Relatives who rarely visited patients have suddenly started calling in and phoning regularly since it emerged that the government is to refund thousands of euros taken illegally to subsidise nursing home care.

Concerns from around the country have prompted the Psychiatric Nurses’ Association of Ireland (PNA) to write to Mary Harney, the health minister, demanding procedures to prevent patients from being exploited. Des Kavanagh, the PNA general secretary, said: “Staff are concerned the repayment of thousands of euros to individuals without preparation and agreed protocols may create significant dangers for patients, clients and nurses.”

He said patients were vulnerable to “the threat posed by long-lost family members who may search out their newly endowed mentally ill relations and seek access to their monies”.

A nurse in the southwest, who does not want to be identified, said one family “who would never take their ill relative on a day trip” is planning to bring the patient on a holiday using the nursing home refund.

She said: “They keep telling the patient she deserves to stay in the best hotels, but you can tell it’s them that want to stay in them. By the sound of what has been said so far, the entire family is going, including children. We have rarely seen these people visit, not to mind take the client out for a day.

“People who would only visit at Christmas are coming all the time. Others keep ringing and asking the staff about the patient, but they never want to talk to them. They are just checking up on them. It’s really sad and we can only watch it happen.”

Some psychiatric patients could receive large lump sums, having had a weekly amount deducted from their state benefits over a number of years.

Thousands of former psychiatric patients live in community residences under supervision. Traditionally, psychiatric nurses have managed their bank accounts but the size of refund payments has raised problems. Nurses are unsure what procedures to follow if a patient or relative demands the money. Currently nurses take instructions from patients or their families, but as the amounts are generally small, there are few concerns.

Kavanagh said: “The return of large sums of money will present unique problems, particularly for patients not accustomed to such amounts. The excitement generated by the arrival of up to €30,000 will create a unique dynamic, which in itself will challenge nurses in counselling patients about its management.”

The PNA says clients of psychiatric hostels and support units could also be preyed upon by fellow patients. Management of such facilities may be tempted to use the money to purchase items that the state should be providing for clients.

Similar concerns are being reported by those working with elderly people, who are also due a refund.

Paul Murray of Age Action Ireland said his organisation is aware of people renewing contact with elderly relatives.

About 22,000 elderly people and psychiatric patients currently in care are due a rebate. The payments were deducted illegally from their pensions and benefits to pay for their long-term care in public institutions between 1976 and December 2004. The refund could cost €2 billion. The estates of deceased people are also due payments.

About 299,000 people were in long-term care between 1976 and December 2004, when the charges ceased.

The PNA said staff are worried that the repayments may result in a reduction in public funds available to mental health and disability services.

The Department of Health said issues surrounding how and when the money will be paid back are being examined and all concerns will be addressed. One idea being examined is to pay the money back over a period of time to avoid big lump sums.

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