I propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 149, 150 and 157 together.
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all people ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services and to public out-patient hospital services. Under the Health (In-Patients Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, a person who has been referred to a hospital for an in-patient service, including that provided on a day case basis, will have to pay the statutory daily charge, currently €80 per day, up to a maximum of €800 per year. On this basis, where venesection is classed as a day case procedure and is not carried out in an out-patient setting, the public in-patient charge applies.
I confirm receipt of the petition in favour of removing the in-patient day case charge for haemochromatosis patients. I am aware of this issue and have asked officials in my Department to examine it, including the particular points made by the Irish Haemochromatosis Association, and to provide me with advice.