asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the practice whereby the Dublin Health Authority combines the day of admission to hospital and the day of discharge as one day for the purpose of calculating contributions by the Authority in respect of maternity confinements, notwithstanding the fact that in some cases patients are compelled by hospital authorities to pay a full day's charge in respect of both admission and discharge days; and, if so, if he will endeavour to have the practice altered; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Charges to Maternity Patients.
16.
Mr. Ryan
I am aware that the practice of the Dublin Health Authority in reckoning the duration of stay in hospital is to regard the combined part-days' stay on admission and discharge as one day. This is standard practice in reckoning duration of stay in hospital. I have had inquiries made from the Dublin maternity hospitals and the practice in all cases is the same as that followed by the Health Authority in computing the amounts to be charged in respect of patients' stay in hospital. I see no reason why the present practice should be altered.
I might mention that this practice is in accord with that followed internationally in the compilation of hospital statistics.
Mr. Ryan
If I give the Minister the name of a hospital on the south side of the city which does not act in accord with the practice, will he take legal action against it in view of the fact that people there are required to pay for a full day on the day of admission and for a full day on the day of leaving, even though they may be only a few hours in the place?
If the Deputy and I have the same hospital in mind, it is not a hospital in the full sense of the term. It is a nursing home and I am informed that the patient was charged for nine days only.
Mr. Ryan
It is nevertheless a hospital, housing, perhaps, 100 patients.
This lady claimed that she stayed for nine days only and was charged for ten. The nursing home has assured me that she was charged for nine days only.
Mr. Ryan
Then it is not the same place.