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Hospital Charges

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Questions (364)

Micheál Martin

Question:

364. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he has received communications from a person (details supplied) with regard to being charged €80 each time the person needs to have blood drained due to haemochromatosis; his views on the fact that it is estimated that this procedure takes only 15 to 30 minutes on average; if consideration is being given not to charge patients with this condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29193/18]

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Written answers

The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all people ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services and to public out-patient hospital services. Under s52 of the Health Act 1970, as amended by s12 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2013, a person who has been referred to a hospital for an in-patient service, including that provided on a day case basis, will have to pay the statutory daily charge, currently €80 per day, up to a maximum of €800 per year. On this basis, where venesection is classed as a day case procedure and is not carried out in an out- patient setting, the public in-patient charge applies.

The provision of therapeutic venesection services for medical and GP visit card holders is being considered as part of the consultations with GP representatives on the GMS Contract. Officials from my Department and the HSE met with the Irish Medical Organisation at the beginning of May to set out the State's position. The Department subsequently wrote to the IMO to formally set out the proposals made at that meeting and the Organisation’s response is awaited.

My Department met with the HSE recently to discuss the provision of venesection services for hereditary haemochromatosis patients and a further meeting has been scheduled.

The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

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