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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Oct 1988

Vol. 383 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ambulance Services.

42.

asked the Minister for Health if he has approved the level of charges for ambulance trips made by patients from the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7, to the Regional Hospital, Galway which are applied by the Western Health Board; and his views on whether the bills should be honoured by the VHI as the current rate is £560 per patient one way as in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Clare.

The provision of ambulance services is a matter for each health board in the first instance and, under the Health Act, 1970, a board may charge for the provision of the service.

The level of charges is agreed by the Ambulance Services Council from time to time and prior to 1 April 1988 was fixed at £2 per mile with a minimum charge of £40 for those patients without full eligibility for health services. The Ambulance Services Council agreed to the revision of these charges with effect from the 1 April 1988 and the rate per mile is now £1.25 with a maximum charge per journey of £200. Prior to 1 April charges were levied on the accumulated mileage for outward and return journeys with no maximum amount specified.

I am informed by the Western Health Board that they have reviewed the circumstances surrounding the charge made in the case to which the Deputy refers. The board have informed me that as the journey in question took place in February and the charges were revised in April, they prepared to reduce the overall amount charged to £200.

The VHI have full responsibility for operational matters with regard to payments in cases such as this and I am not in a position to intervene.

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