Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 10 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 1

Written Answers - General Medical Services Scheme.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

94 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has reconsidered the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will pay the cost of the medical care which this person had to obtain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13360/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Under arrangements for public hospital services introduced in June 1991, everyone, regardless of income, is entitled to public hospital and public consultant services subject only to modest statutory charges, from which medical card holders are exempt. At present these charges are set at £26 per night, subject to a maximum of £260 in any 12 month period, in respect of in-patient public hospital services.

Alternatively, one can opt to be the private patient of both the consultant and the hospital. Any patient, whether a medical card holder, who opts for treatment in a private hospital or as a private patient in a public hospital is liable for the costs relating to such treatment.

Under the Health Act, 1970, the determination of eligibility for health services is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board, and neither I nor my Department has a function in the matter. Health boards have discretion, in cases of exceptional need, to provide assistance to individuals where undue hardship would otherwise be caused. In this instance, the chief executive officer of the then Eastern Health Board considered this particular case and following a clinical review by a health board consultant cardiologist decided there were no grounds on which to allow the request for payment of the private hospital bill by the health board. The person involved was advised of the outcome of the review on 1 March, 2000.