Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if charges apply to pregnant women who present for out-patient procedures related to their pregnancies such as scans or ultrasounds, in cases of either public or private patients presenting at public hospitals; if the charges are uniform at all public hospitals; the level of charges that apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1227/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Outpatient Regulations, no charges are applicable in relation to outpatient services, with the exception of the A&E charge of €100 and charges in respect of MRI services provided to private outpatients. There is no statutory provision for charging public patients for outpatient services, with the exception of the A&E charge. The A&E charge is not applicable, inter alia, where the patient has a referral letter from their general practitioner.

When a patient opts to see a consultant in a private capacity, they are deemed to be private to all consultants engaged in the provision of outpatient services in relation to that particular consultation, and any fees charged are a private contractual arrangement between the patient and the consultants. Neither my Department nor the Health Service Executive (HSE) has any responsibility for such fees. Nevertheless, I have arranged to have your correspondence forwarded to the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE to clarify the matter and they will reply to you directly.