Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1574. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to reduce or abolish the charges applicable to patients who directly present to minor injuries units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57007/23]
View answerThe Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 provides that, subject to certain exemptions, a charge shall be made for out-patient services provided at designated centres including an emergency department (€100) and a minor injury unit (€75). These exemptions include a person with a medical card, a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner and a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient.
While there are no immediate plans to amend these charges, various steps are being taken to help alleviate the pressure in the Emergency Departments. One of these measures is to provide more patients with consistent access to alternative care options by standardising the opening hours of injury units across the country to provide a service seven days per week 8am to 8pm. Two pilot schemes are underway with a private provider to deliver local minor injury capacity, one in Cork operating for an 8-week period - 4/1/24 to 29/2/24, and one in Naas operating a 6-week period – 24/01/2024 to 29/02/2024. Both pilots will be reviewed in the context of the overall HSE Local Injury Unit expansion.
