Vol. 423 No. 1
282 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the situation with regard to Voluntary Health Insurance cover which pertains to St. Francis Medical Centre, Mullingar; if he has taken any steps to protect employment at the Centre; whether he has communicated with the board of the VHI on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I understand that following a lengthy series of correspondence and discussions between the Voluntary Health Insurance Board and St. Francis Medical Centre, Ballinderry, Mullingar the board felt obliged to discontinue insurance cover on 1 December 1991 in respect of services provided at the centre.
High Court proceedings were instituted against the Voluntary Health Insurance Board by the trustees of the congregation of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, being the owners of St. Francis Medical Centre. The Deputy will be aware that the matter is subjudice and that in the circumstances I am precluded from making any further comment at this point.
The Deputy will appreciate that I do not have any statutory responsibility in relation to St. Francis Medical Centre, as it is a private institution. Decisions on insurance cover by VHI in regard to services provided by individual hospitals or centres are a matter for the Voluntary Health Insurance Board.
