Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to her statement at a recent health committee meeting, the status regarding the cost for a patient spending a night on a trolley in hospital compared with a patient spending a night in a bed in hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14011/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In April 2005 it came to my attention that some hospitals had been charging the statutory inpatient levy in the case of patients occupying trolleys in accident and emergency departments. On 28 April 2005, I instructed the Health Service Executive to ensure that patients should not be charged the levy unless they had been formally admitted to a hospital. This instruction included not charging patients in accident and emergency departments who occupy trolleys. However, the decision to admit a patient is taken locally and practices regarding the point at which formal admission occurs and charging commences may vary between hospitals. I wish to ensure fairness and consistency of approach across all hospitals and have asked the HSE for a report on hospitals practices in this regard. I will revert to the Deputy when I have received the HSE's report.