Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Louth was charged €35,000 for an essential service; if they will be refunded by the Health Service Executive; and when this refund will be awarded to the person. [40695/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The statutory hospital in-patient charge of €60 per night applies to everyone receiving treatment in a public hospital (with a number of exceptions) up to a maximum of €600 in any twelve month period. Where a patient opts to see a consultant in a private capacity, they have moved outside the public system, and the fee charged is a private contractual arrangement between the patient and the consultant. Neither my Department nor the Health Service Executive has any responsibility for the reimbursement of such fees. From the information provided by the Deputy, it appears that the person referred to received medical treatment in a private capacity.