Vol. 488 No. 4
182 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12, who paid £180 hospital charges for hospitalisation in November and December 1997, has been asked to pay £75 for three days treatment in February 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6265/98]
Under the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987, as amended by the Health (In-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 1997, a person is liable for statutory charge unless otherwise exempt, in respect of in-patient public hospital services. From 1 January 1998 this charge is set at £25 per night, subject to a maximum of £250 in any 12 month period. The charge had previously been set at £20 per night, subject to a maximum of £200 in any 12 month period.
Public hospital statutory charges are based on the principle that those who can afford to do so are required to make a contribution towards the cost of providing hospital services. There are a number of exemptions to the charge, including medical card holders. While the regulations do not explicitly state so, the effect of the maximum payment is that a person would be liable to be charged for a maximum period of ten nights in any 12 month period. It would, therefore, be fair and reasonable to expect that a person would not be liable for the charge once he-she had paid for ten nights in hospital.
