Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 September 2023
274. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the circumstances in which a charge will be made to a patient visiting the casualty department, visiting an outpatient department or obtaining a blood test, and the level of charge in each case, and the circumstance in which a patient may apply to have such charges waived. [41990/23]
View answerIf you attend the outpatients department or emergency department (A+E) of a public hospital without being referred by your GP or family doctor, you may be charged a standard fee. There is no charge if you are referred by your GP. You must show the referral letter from your GP when you attend the outpatients department or emergency department (A+E).
Since January 1 2009, this charge is €100.
This charge is not applicable if you are in one of the following groups:
Medical card holders
People admitted to hospital after attending the emergency department
People receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases - including coronavirus (COVID-19)
Children, in respect of the following diseases and disabilities: “mental handicap, mental illness, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, haemophilia and cerebral palsy”
People who are entitled to hospital services because of EU Regulations
Note that in select cases where people have difficulty paying, the HSE may provide the service free of charge. You should also note that return visits in relation to each episode of care will not be subject to any additional charge.
If you are referred by your GP to outpatients for specialist assessment by a Consultant or his or her team for diagnostic assessments such as x-rays, laboratory tests or physiotherapy, there is no charge if you attend as a public patient.
