Talks take place today to try to find a solution to the stop on new patients by two large home care organisations in Groningen, Gelderland and Overijssel, report most of Monday’s newspapers.

The home care groups say the AWBZ insurance scheme has run out of money for 2008 and they cannot take on any new patients. As a result the Slingeland hospital in Doetinchem is threatening to refuse new patients needing help at home after treatment in order to prevent hospital beds being blocked.
The Socialist Party (SP) is demanding clarification of the situation from junior health minister Jet Bussemaker by Tuesday or says it will recall parliament from its summer recess. SP MP Renske Leijten told the Volkskrant she has no confidence in NZa’s attempt to see if other home care organisations can take on extra patients.
The patient stop in the north of the country follows criticism from all parties on cabinet plans to save €800m on support services for people with long-term health problems. Bussemaker wants to get a grip on overspending in the AWBZ.
But her Labour party (PvdA) colleague, MP Agnes Wolbert told Trouw on Monday she is angry that home care organisations spread unrest every year. The sector tries to get more money by using patient care as a weapon, she said.
A spokesman for Bussemaker told Trouw that there is enough money in the system and that it is highly likely that new patients will be passed on to other home care organisations.