A DECISION to provide free nursing care to all nursing home residents in Wales has been welcomed by the head of Age Concern Gwent.

But David Murray wants the National Assembly to "go the extra mile" and extend provision to include social care if it is found that devolvement of healthcare matters to Wales allows it.

People living in residential care homes or receiving care in their own homes already get free nursing care, but those paying for their own care in nursing homes pay for nursing care as well.

After December 3 those in the latter category will not have to pay. The measure has already been introduced in Scotland.

Welsh health minister Jane Hutt said residents in Wales would be better off than their English counterparts. Mr Murray, however, foresees problems over the definition of nursing and social care.

"I welcome this announcement, but it still leaves open the thorny question of who pays for social care," he said.

"This is a step in the right direction, but I have very real fears about the assessment of nursing care.

"I'm afraid there could be all sorts of legal wrangles over what sort of care a person receives."

The policy will be applied to local authority-funded clients from April 2003.