Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 May 2012
13 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that access to specialised treatment services which are solely available at a specific public hospital can sometimes be denied to public patients when those patients live outside that hospital’s catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24237/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for public health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. All persons normally resident in the state are eligible for in-patient and outpatient public hospital services including consultant services. It is unacceptable for a patient to be informed at short notice that a hospital will not treat them because they are in the ‘wrong' catchment area and my Department has been working with the HSE to clarify its policy in this area.
I can confirm to the Deputy that a letter issued yesterday from the National Directors of the HSE and the Chief Operating Officer of the SDU setting out the position in relation to catchment areas.
With immediate affect all hospitals will be requested to:—
Refrain from any further limiting of historic catchment areas i.e. No further refusals of referrals from areas which such referrals have been accepted since 2009.
This will be retrospective to the start of this year in most cases subject to discussion.
This will apply to both "new referrals" and also to existing patients in long-term care / treatment.
I am confident that working with the RDOs and the hospitals that this particular issue will be quickly resolved. The SDU will continue to work with the HSE to embed improved GP referral systems which will enhance patient access to the health services.
