Vol. 415 No. 7
95 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health whether any study has been undertaken of the effect on public patients in allowing more and more private patients in public wards; whether his attention has been drawn to the fact there are many complaints of a deterioration in the level of care for public patients as a consequence; and if he will outline his views on the matter and make a statement on the matter.
More private patients are not being allowed in public wards and there is no deterioration in the level of care for public patients. In fact, the reverse is the case. The Government enacted legislation in 1991 which restricts the access of private patients to public beds. The Health Services (In-Patient) Regulations, 1991, made on foot of the Health (Amendment) Act, 1991, provide that a consulant's private patient may be admitted to a public bed only where it is a certified emergency admission and no private or semi-private bed is available. The effect of this provision, which is being phased in at present, is to increase the availability of public beds for public patients.
