Hospital Charges.

Wednesday, 23 November 2005

Questions (100)

Richard Bruton

Question:

135 Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has made provision in the 2006 Estimates for changes in the charges for casualty, outpatient visits, a public ward, a semi-private ward and a private ward; and the charges and the ceilings which will apply in 2006. [36041/05]

View answer

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

As announced following the publication of the Abridged Estimates Volume on 17 November 2005, the cost of visiting accident and emergency, where the person concerned has not been referred by a medical practitioner, will increase by €5 from €55 to €60 in 2006. The pubic hospital inpatient charge will also rise by €5 from €55 to €60 per night, up to a maximum of ten nights, in any 12 consecutive months. There will also be an increase of 10% in the charges raised by hospitals from private beds, income which will support the services provided in these hospitals. The details are as follows:

Hospital Category	Private Accommodation	Semi-private Accommodation	Day Care
	2005	2006	2005	2006	2005	2006
	€	€	€	€	€	€
Regional, Voluntary and joint region teaching hospitals	501	551	393	432	361	397
County and Voluntary non-teaching hospitals	418	459	336	369	299	328
District Hospital	179	197	153	168	133	146

The combination of these increased bed charges and the accident and emergency charge will yield some €25 million in a year.