Vol. 508 No. 4
172 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will investigate the position of old age pensioners who are long-term hospital patients and have to pay all of their allowances less £11.50 per week to the health boards; if he has satisfied himself with this position and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19323/99]
Long stay charges can be made under two sets of regulations. Charges can be made under the Institutional Assistance Regulations 1965, where the patient receives "shelter and maintenance" rather than treatment. These charges apply from the date of admission and are payable by all patients who are in receipt of incomes including medical card holders and persons with dependants.
Charges can also be made under the Health (Charges for In-Patient 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 more than 30 days or for periods totalling more than 30 days within the previous 12 months. Medical card holders are exempt from these charges. In practice, however, persons in long stay care do not usually hold medical cards as the hospital takes responsibility for all of the person's health needs. Persons with dependants are also exempt.
