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| Widow wins nursing costs battle | Widow wins nursing costs battle |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An 85-year-old widow has been awarded £42,000 compensation after a battle over free nursing care. | An 85-year-old widow has been awarded £42,000 compensation after a battle over free nursing care. |
| The family of Morfydd Jones from Ystalyfera in the Swansea Valley, began a legal fight two years ago. | The family of Morfydd Jones from Ystalyfera in the Swansea Valley, began a legal fight two years ago. |
| The union Nacods claimed thousands of elderly people had been wrongly charged for places in nursing homes which should be provided free by the NHS. | The union Nacods claimed thousands of elderly people had been wrongly charged for places in nursing homes which should be provided free by the NHS. |
| Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board (LHB) said it would "reimburse any monies as appropriate". | |
| Mrs Jones, who has Alzheimer's disease, has been paying her own fees for 24-hour care at a nursing home in nearby Ystradgynlais. | Mrs Jones, who has Alzheimer's disease, has been paying her own fees for 24-hour care at a nursing home in nearby Ystradgynlais. |
| Mrs Jones' family have welcomed the money being returned, but the widow's son Arwel Jones said he was angry it had taken so long to get it back. | Mrs Jones' family have welcomed the money being returned, but the widow's son Arwel Jones said he was angry it had taken so long to get it back. |
| He said: "I know this money has been given back to my mother, but they shouldn't have taken it in the first place. That's the point we're making - they had no right to it." | He said: "I know this money has been given back to my mother, but they shouldn't have taken it in the first place. That's the point we're making - they had no right to it." |
| Thousands of very sick and elderly people in nursing homes and residential homes throughout the country are being wrongly charged for their care Bleddyn Hancock, Nacods | Thousands of very sick and elderly people in nursing homes and residential homes throughout the country are being wrongly charged for their care Bleddyn Hancock, Nacods |
| Mr Jones began the legal fight to recover the money in October 2004 with the support of Nacods. | Mr Jones began the legal fight to recover the money in October 2004 with the support of Nacods. |
| Nacods said the case was passed between neighbouring health boards in Neath Port Talbot - where Mrs Jones lived - and Powys, where the widow is in a nursing home. | Nacods said the case was passed between neighbouring health boards in Neath Port Talbot - where Mrs Jones lived - and Powys, where the widow is in a nursing home. |
| 'Fully vindicates' | |
| A hearing of Powys LHB recommended that Mrs Jones be fully refunded - with interest - the money that she has paid for nursing care since April 2002, adding that she should not pay any more for her stay in the nursing home. | A hearing of Powys LHB recommended that Mrs Jones be fully refunded - with interest - the money that she has paid for nursing care since April 2002, adding that she should not pay any more for her stay in the nursing home. |
| Commenting on the case, Bleddyn Hancock, general secretary of Nacods in south Wales, said: "It is shameful that it has taken nearly two full years to resolve this issue. | Commenting on the case, Bleddyn Hancock, general secretary of Nacods in south Wales, said: "It is shameful that it has taken nearly two full years to resolve this issue. |
| "I am delighted that yet again we have been successful in one of these cases and obtained a full refund of the money. | "I am delighted that yet again we have been successful in one of these cases and obtained a full refund of the money. |
| "It fully vindicates our view that thousands of very sick and elderly people in nursing homes and residential homes throughout the country are being wrongly charged for their care." | "It fully vindicates our view that thousands of very sick and elderly people in nursing homes and residential homes throughout the country are being wrongly charged for their care." |
| In a statement, Neath Port Talbot LHB said it was "unable to comment on the detail in any individual case due to patient confidentiality". | In a statement, Neath Port Talbot LHB said it was "unable to comment on the detail in any individual case due to patient confidentiality". |
| But it added: "The local health board will adhere to the recommendations made by Powys local health board's review panel and will reimburse any monies due from the LHB as appropriate." | But it added: "The local health board will adhere to the recommendations made by Powys local health board's review panel and will reimburse any monies due from the LHB as appropriate." |
| Powys LHB said it was responsible for special review panels across Wales to look into family claims for long term care costs, in a seven year period to 2003. | |
| But a spokesman said he could not comment on individual patients. |