Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider reclassifying Letterkenny General Hospital from a general to a regional hospital; the additional funding that the hospital would attract as a result of such reclassification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20186/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Letterkenny General Hospital is categorised as a Category 2 Hospital for the purpose of public hospital charges. Private, semi private and day case charges for hospitals in this category were increased this year by between 29% and 42%. The issue of reimbursement of hospitals for private patient treatment was examined in the 'Value for Money and Policy Review of the Economic Cost and Charges Associated with Private and Semi-Private Treatment Services in Public Hospitals', published in December 2010. This Report recommended a review of the system of hospital categorisation, on which private patient charges are based. The existing categories reflect differences in teaching status and complexity as measured by the casemix system.

As measured by the casemix system, Letterkenny General Hospital has a relatively low level of case complexity, and therefore resource usage, compared to other hospitals. This would suggest that its current classification for charging purposes is appropriate. However, I will keep the matter under review in the context of categorising all hospitals for charging purposes.