asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate as a matter of urgency hospital charges for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who is a member of the VHI.
Written Answers. - Hospital Charges Investigation.
467.
I have investigated the circumstances of the case as requested by the Deputy. The following is the position.
The patient in question was admitted to St. John of God's Private Psychiatric Hospital, Stillorgan, on 10 August 1982 and was discharged on 22 October 1982 (a period of 73 days). The charge for her maintenance and treatment was £329 per week (medicines and tests were extra). A contribution at the approved rate (£2.25 per day) was made by the Eastern Health Board towards her expenses in accordance with section 54 of the Health Act, 1970. The patient's nett bill came to £3,547.20 and I understand from the hospital authority that she has arranged with the hospital to pay it off by regular monthly contributions.
It appears that the patient went into St. John of God's Hospital on the assumption that VHI would cover her expenses but when the hospital authority investigated her position it was learned that VHI would not accept liability as she was already ill when she applied for membership of their insurance scheme. The patient was, of course, entitled to hospital services free of charge in her local health board psychiatric hospital. However, as she opted to enter a private psychiatric hospital of her own accord she would be liable for the total expenses involved (less the daily subvention from the health board already referred to above).