S.I. No. 178/1993:

HEALTH SERVICES (OUT-PATIENT) REGULATIONS, 1993.

HEALTH SERVICES (OUT-PATIENT) REGULATIONS, 1993.

The Minister for Health in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 56 of the Health Act, 1970 (No. 1 of 1970) as amended by the Health (Amendment) Act, 1987 (No. 3 of 1987) and Section 7 of the Health (Amendment) Act, 1991 (No. 15 of 1991), hereby makes the following Regulations.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health Services (Out-Patient) Regulations, 1993.

2. In these Regulations--

"public patient" means a person receiving out-patient consultant services under Section 56 of the Health Act, 1970 as amended by the Health (Amendment) Act, 1987 and Section 7 of the Health (Amendment) Act, 1991 ;

"private patient" means a person receiving out-patient consultant services other than as a public patient;

"consultant" means a registered medical practitioner engaged in a consultant capacity in the provision of out-patient services.

3. For the purpose of determining entitlement of a person to out-patient services--

(1) a person availing of out-patient consultant services as a public patient shall be deemed to be the public patient of all consultants engaged in the provision of out-patient services to that person in relation to that particular consultation;

(2) a person availing of out-patient consultant services as a private patient of a consultant shall be deemed to be the private patient of all consultants engaged in the provision of out-patient services to that person in relation to that particular consultation.

4. A health board shall charge a person who is availing of out-patient consultant services as a private patient of a consultant such charges as may be approved of or directed by the Minister for the provision of out-patient services.

5. The Health Services (Out-Patient) Regulations, 1991 ( S.I. No. 136 of 1991 ) are hereby revoked.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Health, this 1st day of July, 1993.

BRENDAN HOWLIN,

Minister for Health.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations

(i) specify the manner in which a person may avail of his/her entitlement to consultant out-patient services under Section 56 of the Health Act, 1970 and

(ii) provide for charges, as approved of or directed by the Minister, for out-patient services provided to patients who are not availing of the above entitlement and are therefore "private patients".

They replace the Health Services (Out-Patient) Regulations, 1991 which provided only for (i) above.