Vol. 528 No. 2
147 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the current situation where road accident patients are being charged extra charges by health board hospitals on top of standard charges for hospitalisation; his views on these additional surcharges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29889/00]
The Deputy will be aware that the Health (Amendment) Act, 1986, enables charges to be made by health boards for in-patient and out-patient services for persons who received or are entitled to receive damages or compensation in respect of treatment for injuries caused by road traffic accidents.
The charges levied are normally the cost of providing the services or the average daily cost to the hospital concerned. The manner in which charges are raised under the Act is being appealed to the Supreme Court and the case is expected to be heard in the first half of 2001.
The determination of eligibility for health services is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. If the Deputy has a specific case in mind he should inquire of the relevant health board chief executive officer regarding the circumstances in which charges were made in the case concerned.
