Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I do not subscribe to the argument that the VHI is solely responsible for this problem. The VHI operates as a business and blame for this increase should be apportioned proportionately. In apportioning blame fairly, the consultants must take their fair share for their milking of the health insurance system. I will provide anecdotal evidence shortly. Other factors include the rates charged by hospitals and the Minister's failure to tackle consultants. Similarly, the VHI is to blame for not fighting the charges levied by hospitals and consultants and especially for pushing out its elder members.

I did not renew my health insurance 18 months ago on principle because of two experiences. I am the father of four young children and four years ago my wife went into hospital to undergo a minor procedure. She spent 15 minutes on the bed and was back in the car within 45 minutes. A bill came to our house for €970, some €880 of which was covered by the health insurer and we were obliged to pay €90. The issue was not the €90 we were obliged to pay but the €550 she was charged for the quarter of an hour that she was on that bed and that is what I do not agree with. Second, we have a little girl who is now two years of age. When my wife went for her first prenatal scan at 16 weeks, she returned with an appointment for another scan two weeks later. Personally, I was shattered by this news and every kind of thought went through my head. As my wife was being called back for another scan in two weeks I was left wondering what was wrong. When she returned to the hospital two weeks later, she was brought down to the consultant's private rooms. However, she stated that as our first three children had been born in the public service, which was excellent, this child would be born there also. She then was told that it would not cost anything, as she had health insurance. However, my wife stuck to her guns and went through the public service. How many more scans would she have been brought to had she used her health insurance to use the private service with the consultant?

This is the reason I apportion blame to consultants, who are absolutely milking the system. It is a disgrace that the Minister has not tackled in any meaningful way the hospital consultants. In recent years, wards are being closed and beds are being lost in each hospital in the country, while private rooms, which are moneymaking milking machines, are being put up. This is the reason beds are being lost in public hospitals and the Minister has failed to tackle this. As for the charges levied by hospitals, my wife spent 15 minutes on a bed and was charged €550 for so doing.

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