Katainen calms nerves over row on elderly care
Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen has sought to allay fears that arguments between his National Coalition Party and the Social Democrats over care for the elderly might endanger government co-operation.
Speaking in Oulu at a meeting of NCP ministers, he said the disagreements were part of the normal budgetary debate.
On Wednesday, Katainen’s party rejected calls by its main government partner, the SDP, to legally stipulate a minimum staff-patient ratio in nursing homes.
The prime minister said the diverging views would be resolved in the cabinet’s social policy ministerial committee.
Minister of Health and Social Services Maria Guzenina-Richardson of the SDP has proposed a legally-binding minimum of seven caregivers per10 elderly. This would change the current set-up from a recommended 0.5 caregivers per person to a legally required 0.7.
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