In-patient charges in public hospitals
If you are in a public ward under the care of a consultant for treatment and you remain overnight, you are receiving in-patient services.
If you are admitted to the hospital under the care of a consultant where you do not require the use of a bed overnight and your discharge from hospital is planned, you are receiving day services.
The charge for in-patient/day services is €75 per day up to a maximum of €750 in a any 12 consecutive months (from 1 January 2009). The charge does not apply to the following groups:
- Medical card holders
- People receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases
- People who are subject to "long stay" charges
- Children up to six weeks of age, children suffering from prescribed diseases and disabilities and children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations
- People who are entitled to hospital services because of EU Regulations
- Women receiving maternity services.
Private patients in public or voluntary hospitals
If you are in a private bed in a public or voluntary hospital, you must pay for your maintenance at a rate set from time to time. The following charges are in addition to the public hospital in-patient charges. The rates from 1 January, 2009 are:
Hospital CategoryPrivateSemi-privateDay-careHSE Regional Hospitals and Voluntary and Joint Board Teaching Hospitals€910 €713 €655 HSE County Hospitals and Voluntary Non-teaching Hospitals€607 €488€434HSE District Hospitals€260 €222 €193
If you are a private patient, you must pay for the services of the consultant who is treating you. You must also pay for the services of any other consultant who is involved in caring for you (i.e., the radiation oncologist, anaesthetist, etc.)
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