Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Chambers for the question and I will endeavour to give him as full an explanation as possible. The reason the HSE has ceased reporting the number of private beds in public hospitals is that since 2014, as referenced by the Deputy, all private patients are charged in a similar manner, and the charges set for private patients are no longer set with reference to being in private or semi-private hospital beds.

The Health (Amendment) Act 2013, as Deputy Chambers mentioned, established the basis for this policy, enabling all private patients in a public hospital to be subject to charges. The Act addressed a situation previously identified by the Comptroller and Auditor General whereby when private inpatients were accommodated in public or non-designated beds no private inpatient charges applied, despite the patients having a private treatment relationship with their consultants. This was a matter highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General to which the legislation endeavoured to respond. The absence of a maintenance charge in such instances represented a significant loss of income to the public hospital system and to taxpayers at large.

Since 1 January 2014 revised charges are levied on all private patients. The charging regime now distinguishes between the accommodation of private patients in single rooms and multi-occupancy rooms, with the former charged at a higher rate. Analysis I commissioned at the request of Deputy Kelleher is being finalised by my Department. It indicates that changes to the charging structure have not resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of patients treated on a private basis in public acute hospitals. I hope to be in a position to share this with both Deputies in the coming days.

The use of beds in public hospitals is now more closely aligned with the clinical needs of the patients. This change allows for more efficient use of beds, with priority being given to issues such as end of life care, where a person can be given a single room, and infection control, regardless of the public or private status of the patient. The concern the Deputy has about these changes and the impact they have had on an extra number of private patients in public hospitals and the impact on the public health service is something on which I expect to have analysis in the coming days. The initial analysis I have received suggests this has not seen such an increase and, therefore, this is the rationale behind not counting private beds.

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