asked the Minister for Health if he will state generally the extent to which the cost of maternity cases, including doctor's attendance in hospitals, is met under the Health Act of 1953 as regards persons insured under the Social Welfare Acts or their dependents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maternity Cases: Costs Defrayed under Health Act.
Persons currently or until recently insured under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, and dependents of such persons, are among the classes entitled, free of charge, to maternity and infant health services under the Health Act, 1953.
These services include general practitioner medical and midwifery services by a doctor and midwife chosen from those who have entered into agreements with the health authority to provide services. The services also include, where necessary, hospital and specialist services, a supply of medicines for persons in the lower income group and maternity packs for all domiciliary confinements.
Where an eligible woman accepts the hospital service made available by a health authority in a public ward in their own hospital or in any other hospital with which they have made appropriate arrangements, no charge is payable by her either for maintenance in hospital or for medical attention there. The same position obtains in respect of her infant up to the age of six weeks.
An eligible woman may decide not to avail of the free hospital service and to make her own arrangements for her confinement in an approved hospital or registered maternity home. In this case the health authority will pay a subvention— usually 8/- per day—in respect of her stay there and will also pay for or contribute towards the cost of certain specified extras. The remainder of the cost of maintenance is payable by the patient. With regard to the cost of medical attention in the institution of her choice, the position is that, if she is attended by the doctor with whom she registered for maternity care under the scheme, the health authority will pay that doctor's fee. If she goes into a public ward in an approved hospital, the agreement between the hospital and the health authority provides that she shall not be liable for any medical fees. If, however, she goes into a maternity home or a private or semi-private ward of an approved hospital and is not attended by the doctor with whom she registered under the scheme, she is liable for medical fees.