Vol. 575 No. 1
156 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has made provision in the 2004 Estimates to increase charges for casualty attendance, for in-stay in a public ward and for in-stay in a private, semi-private bed and for day attendance in public hospitals and the former; and the proposed levels in each case. [27947/03]
Increases in charges for in-patient services and attendance at accident and emergency departments, from which medical card holders are exempt, will take effect from 1 January 2004. The public hospital statutory in-patient bed charge will be increased by €5 to €45 per night, subject to a maximum payment of €450 in any 12 consecutive months. Attendance at accident and emergency departments is subject to a charge if the patient does not have a letter of referral from a general practitioner. This charge, which applies only to the first visit in any episode of care, will be increased by €5 to €45. In addition to the above statutory charges, the charge for private or semi-private accommodation in a public hospital will increase by 15% from 1 January next. The new charges are as follows:
|
Hospital Category |
PrivateAccommodation |
Semi-PrivateAccommodation |
Day care |
|
Health board regional hospitalsVoluntary and joint board teaching hospitals |
€401(€349 up to 31/12/03) |
€314(€273 up to 31/12/03) |
€289(€251 up to 31/12/03) |
|
Health board county hospitalsVoluntary non-teaching hospitals |
€334(€290 up to 31/12/03) |
€269(€234 up to 31/12/03) |
€239(€208 up to 31/12/03) |
|
Health board district hospitals |
€179(€156 up to 31/12/03) |
€153(€133 up to 31/12/03) |
€133(€116 up to 31/12/03) |
