John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. The consultants' costs are not being questioned in this case. I take his point on the State having no role in charging for accommodation. Is he not even half scandalised by the cost? There has to be a trickle-down impact from the charging of more than €7,000 for an "overnight stay" in a semi-private room in a private hospital. I have been informed by people who know far more about this than I do that the equivalent stay in a public hospital for the same procedure costs €1,000. The Minister of State has explained why and said that legislation is covering it. He said €1,000 does not cover the cost. There is no way, however, it would cost €7,000.

Many constituents have shown politicians, including the Minister of State, bills received for treatment covered by private health insurers in respect of which they have been pleasantly surprised by the cost of the consultant or surgeon but absolutely outraged by, and left gasping at, the cost of the hospital facilities, even for the shortest of stays, particularly where there has not been an overnight stay. I realise there is a cost associated with equipment, plant and ancillary staff. Would it not help, however, if the insurer provided to the subscriber a detailed breakdown of exactly where every single cent of the sum in excess of €7,000 went.? If there are hundreds of patients in a hospital in any given week, millions of euro are paid over by health insurers. I have read reports that the payouts last year were marginally lower, resulting in marginally lower premiums for people. Given, however, the increases in the cost of living experienced by people over the past year, including in the cost of motor and health insurance, surely there is something the Government can do as opposed to just reciting the law and the negotiating stance of health insurers. Surely the Government could do something for the insurer when it sees the outrageous amounts health insurers are charged by private hospitals.

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