Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 6

Written Answers. - Hospital Charges.

Bernard Allen

Question:

285 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the increase in bed charges in public hospitals in each of the years from 1997 to 1999; and the proposals, if any, he has to increase bed charges in public hospitals in 2000 and 2001. [3108/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Details of the information requested by the Deputy are set out in the following tables. These are the charges set by the Minister under section 55 of the 1970 Health Act, as amended by section 6 of the Health (Amendment) Act, 1991. These charges do not represent the full economic cost of care and treatment.

The White Paper on Private Health Insurance, published in September 1999, sets out the Government's position with regard to the provision of private health services in public hospitals. The White Paper clearly proposes the development, over a period of five to seven years, of pricing arrangements which will more closely reflect the economic cost of such services.

A group has been set up in my Department to consider how best to implement this policy. This group will consult widely with health service providers including health insurance providers. The results of the group's work will largely determine the levels of bed charges to be set in future years.

Hospital Category	Year	PrivateAccommodation	Semi-PrivateAccommodation	Day-care
Health Board Regional HospitalsVoluntary and Joint BoardTeaching Hospitals	2000199919981997	£183£171£157£144	£143£134£123£113	£131£122£112£76
Health Board County HospitalsVoluntary Non-Teaching Hospitals	2000199919981997	£151£141£129£118	£122£114£105£96	£109£102£94£65
Health Board District Hospitals	2000199919981997	£94£88£81£74	£81£76£70£64	£70£65£60£47

Bernard Allen

Question:

286 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to increase the hospital in-patient charge for each day of hospitalisation; the present fee and the proposed new fee; if the maximum payment for any 12 consecutive months has been increased; and, if so, the amount in each case. [3109/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Increases in the public hospital statutory in-patient charge came into effect on 1 January 2000. The charge has been increased by £1 to £26 per overnight or day case and the maximum payment in any 12 month period has been increased from £250 to £260.

There are a number of exemptions to the charge, including medical card holders, women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks and children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school health examinations. Also exempt from the statutory charges, in respect of treatment for the particular condition, are children suffering from prescribed diseases and disabilities – that is mental handicap, mental illness, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, haemophilia and cerebral palsy. Where the exemptions do not apply the charge may be waived if, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board, payment would cause undue hardship.