Vol. 474 No. 5
48 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will request the relevant health board to review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who is an old age pensioner, whose wife is in hospital care and who has received a hospital bill which he cannot afford to pay in view of the fact that he is endeavouring to make alterations to their home to enable him to care for her. [3434/97]
Limerick East): I have had inquiries made of the Midland Health Board on behalf of the person concerned and have been informed that the charges in question are being levied under the Health (Charges for In-Patients Services) Regulations, 1976, as amended by the Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987. These regulations enable charges to be made towards the cost of providing hospital in-patient services for persons with income who have been in receipt of such services for 30 days or for periods totalling 30 days within the previous 12 months.
The over-riding consideration in applying longstay charges is that persons with means who are in receipt of long-term care should make a contribution towards the cost of their maintenance. In deciding the amount to be contributed health boards have regard to the person's individual circumstances. Allowance is made for any financial commitments the person may have and a reasonable amount is left to meet the person's personal needs.
I understand from the health board that the charge being raised at present is a provisional charge based on the person's income with about 25 per cent being allowed for personal needs pending completion of a full financial assessment. The health board has stated that the expenditure incurred in making alterations to the home will be considered in carrying out this assessment.
