Mr. Jim Breslin:

The Deputy asked me a legal question in regard to the legislation. I will not address the specific case to which she referred. The insurance company of a patient who attends a public hospital through the accident and emergency department or as a booked admission and wishes to be treated as a private patient will be charged even if the person is placed on an ordinary ward rather than in a single room. The single rooms may be occupied by persons with MRSA or other clinical issues. The State may legally recover the fee from the insurance company.