Alzheimer’s Society contacted our Community Care Unit on behalf of a woman who was trying to get a specialised chair for her husband, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and lives in a nursing home. There was a disagreement over who was responsible for this type of provision.

Following negotiations between the Law Centre, the nursing home and the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the Trust agreed to part-finance a chair that would meet his need.

This case reveals the lack of clarity around legal responsibility for the provision of specialised equipment when someone is placed by the Trust in nursing care.

The Human Rights Act 1998 was engaged in this case, along with the Health and Personal Social Services (NI) Order 1972 and the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (NI) Act 1978.

'Our caseworker dealt with our case very well. It was a difficult situation but she had a great success.'