To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding allowing minor injury units to introduce fees of €100 for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Reply from Minister for Health James Reilly T.D.
With effect from 1stMarch 2013, under the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2013, a charge €100 is levied in all facilities providing emergency out-patient services. In recent years, changes have been made to the emergency services provided in a number of hospitals with resultant changes in the description of the services from “an accident and emergency department”. The Regulations cover out-patient services provided at an emergency department, a casualty department, a minor injury unit, an urgent care centre, a local injury unit or any other facility providing similar services.