Thousands 'miss out' on care cash

The programme carried out a survey of care homes in Scotland The NHS - A Broken Trust

Thousands of people in Scotland could be paying for their healthcare when the NHS should be footing the bill, a BBC investigation has found.

Health Ombudsman Eric Drake said the situation was unacceptable and urged ministers to overhaul the guidelines on paying for care after leaving hospital.

These guidelines were changed in England 10 years ago but have have never been updated in Scotland.

A review was launched three years ago, but has not been completed.

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Now Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon wants the study to be finished as a matter of urgency.

A survey for BBC Scotland's Frontline programme estimated that up to 20,000 people in care homes north of the border could be missing out on NHS funding.

More than 90% of those in care homes surveyed for the programme would have qualified for funding under the English guidelines.

These were brought in following a landmark court ruling on payment for long-term care.