James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let us deal with the issues the Deputy raised. The number of patients waiting more than a year for an inpatient procedure is at its lowest level since records began. At the beginning of this year, the number of patients waiting more than a year for day case surgery is at its lowest level. Waiting lists in excess of a year for inpatient and day case procedures have been eliminated in 15 hospitals since the Government took office. The number of people who wait more than three months for procedures has been reduced by 18%. A total of 3,706 adults were waiting more than nine months for inpatient and day case surgery at the end of 2011, but by the end of 2012 the number had been reduced to just 86. In other words, the waiting list has been reduced by 98%. A total of 4,590 patients were waiting more than 13 weeks for a routine endoscopy procedure at the end of 2011, but within a year this waiting list was reduced to just 36 patients. Therefore, that waiting list has been reduced by 99%. A maximum waiting time target of 12 months has been set for a first time outpatient appointment and we hope to achieve that by the end of this year. Last year, the number of patients on trolleys was reduced by 24%, and so far this year there has been a further reduction of over 9%. All that has been done in the face of reduced staff and personnel resources.

Let us now return to the Bill before us. I can see that both Deputies have decided to take the insurance companies' figures at face value. I have alternative figures that indicate a very different picture. At a time of huge pressure on our health service funding, the budget measures provided for in the Bill are important both financially and from the perspective of reform. These measures will generate funding which is necessary to support the sustainable provision of a range of important health services in acute hospitals.

As I mentioned in my opening remarks, the Bill will increase the acute public inpatient charge from €75 to €80, and the charging of all private inpatients in public hospitals. The Government believes that the new private inpatient charge makes sense. Up to now we have had a situation where insurers have been enjoying a significant subsidy at the expense of the public hospital system where private patients in public beds have only paid a standard €75 per night. By contrast, private patients in semi-private beds have paid up to €1,000 per night. In both cases the patients see their consultants privately and pay the consultants' private fees. Indeed, they have already paid their insurer.

In future, rather than paying €75 per night, private patients will be charged €860 through their insurance, which is still well below the economic cost of those services. The cost of providing hospital services to private inpatients is at least €200 million more than the amount that public hospitals are currently allowed to charge. It is the Government's view that it simply does not make sense that two identical private patients getting the same medical treatment in a public hospital should pay different amounts for using hospital facilities.

Deputy Finian McGrath suggested that costs for those with intellectual disabilities will go up. The residential support services, maintenance and accommodation contributions do not involve increases in contributions levels. There will be no increase in this regard. In essence, the Bill continues existing arrangements for people in a range of residential settings, including those with intellectual disabilities who contribute towards the cost of their maintenance, but with a modernised and simplified legal framework. Deputy Browne commented on the fair deal scheme, but the placement list is run in strict chronological order on a national basis.

I commend the Bill to the House. It is an essential part of ensuring that we have the resources to run our health service. It is updating much legislation on the method of charging. In addition, it underpins in a major way and secures the future of the health services so that we can look after our citizens in an efficient, fair and effective fashion.

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