Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Section 12 inserts into the Health Act 1970 the new sections 53B and 53C. Section 53B is a technical amendment resulting from the repeal of section 53 of the Health Act 1970. Section 53C provides for charges to be raised for acute public inpatient services in public hospitals at a rate of €80 per day, an increase of €5 per day. We are concerned that the maximum amount can be varied by the Minister under this section. The Minister may make regulations specifying the amounts of charges and the maximum number of days within a range of seven to 15 days. The charges will apply for a period of 12 consecutive months. Clearly, the Minister can increase the maximum sums involved. Most patients in acute hospitals without medical cards are charged €75 per day as well as maintenance charges for inpatient care up to a maximum of €750 per year. This charge is to be increased to €80 per day to an €800 maximum over ten days. However, the Minister will be allowed to regulate for the maximum number of days per year in a range of seven to 15 days. If the Minister were to regulate for a 15-day maximum, it would result in a maximum charge of €1,200 per year, a significant sum.

This is, however, difficult to square with the reality of our public health services. The reality is that the Minister is imposing increased charged for shrinking public health services. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has reported that an average of 79 patients each day are being placed in overcrowded and inappropriate environments on inpatient wards above the stated bed complement of those wards. That is in addition to those on trolleys and chairs in emergency departments. This is not good enough and in reality there is no justification for the Government's decision to increase charges for services that are worse than before. We are opposing the section.