asked the Minister for Health if he has issued guidelines to the health boards regarding the categories of patients exempted from the £10 charge for out-patient services; if he will consider excluding workers in the meat processing industry who have contacted brucellosis and require regular treatment in out-patient departments from this charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Exemptions from Hospital Charges.
192.
My Department issued guidelines on 24 April 1987 to chief executive officers of health boards on all aspects of the out-patient charges including those categories of persons exempted from such charges. One of the exempted categories are persons receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases prescribed under Part IV of the Health Act, 1947. Brucellosis is a prescribed infectious disease. Accordingly, persons receiving out-patient services for the diagnosis or treatment of brucellosis are exempt from out-patient charges.