Vol. 411 No. 5
121 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the reason persons occupying a private or semi-private bed in a public hospital have to also make payment for a bed in a public ward as part of the bill; and whether such double charging prevails elsewhere.
Persons occupying a private or semi-private bed in a public hospital do not also pay for a bed in a public ward as part of the bill. However, they may, in addition to the appropriate maintenance charge for private or semi-private accommodation, be liable for a charge of £12.50 per day or part of a day for the first ten days in any 12 months, which applies to patients in both public beds and private/semi-private beds.
This charge is identified separately, rather than included in the overall maintenance charge for private and semi-private accommodation, because certain categories of patients are exempted — e.g. medical card holders, women receiving services in respect of motherhood and children suffering from prescribed diseases and disabilities. Where such patients avail of private and semi-private accommodation, they remain liable for the maintenance charge but do not have to pay the £12.50 charge.
