Vol. 408 No. 1
141 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the present position regarding the proposal to extend the free hospital scheme to all citizens; and if he will make a statement on recent reports that his Department plan to charge private patients for public bed accommodation and their maintenance.
145 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on recent reports (details supplied) that his Department are planning an evaluation of the implications of charging private patients in public hospitals the economic costs of their accommodation.
146 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on recent reports (details supplied) that his Department are evaluating whether private patients should not be charged for public bed accommodation.
152 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital beds which will be held for private patients under the new eligibility proposals to be introduced on 1 June 1991; and the cost per day of these beds.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 145, 146 and 152 together.
The Programme for Economic and Social Progress provides for the extension of eligibility for category 2 health services to those currently in category 3, with effect from 1 June next. The principal effect of this change will be to extend eligibility for free consultant services, as a public patient, to the entire population. Every person is already entitled to avail of a public bed. Where a person opts to be the private patient of a consultant he will, of course, continue to be liable for professional fees.
The programme also provides for the introduction, on a phased basis, of modifications to the arrangements for admission to public hospitals. Public patients will, in general, be accommodated in public beds while private patients will be accommodated in private or semi-private beds. Emergency cases will be admitted in whatever bed is available.
A Bill to amend the relevant legislation to give effect to these commitments will be published shortly.
To facilitate the new admission arrangements, health boards and voluntary hospitals have been required to draw up plans for the designation of public and private/semi-private beds and for a three-year phased implementation of the new system. These proposals are now being examined by the Department of Health, who are responsible for co-ordinating the overall phasing and for monitoring the new arrangements as required under the terms of the programme. As this examination is not yet complete, I cannot at this stage confirm the number of beds which will be designated as private or semi-private.
|
Private Bed |
Semi Private Bed |
|
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Regional Hospitals,Voluntary Teaching Hospitals |
102 |
74 |
|
County Hospitals,Voluntary Non-Teaching Hospitals |
78 |
58 |
|
District Hospitals |
38 |
29 |
