STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.

S.I. No. 401 of 1999.

HEALTH (IN-PATIENT CHARGES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1999.

S.I. No. 401 of 1999.

HEALTH (IN-PATIENT CHARGES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1999.

The Minister for Health and Children in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 5 of the Health Act, 1947 ( No. 28 of 1947 ) and Section 53 of the Health Act, 1970 ( No. 1 of 1970 ) as adapted by the Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1997 ( No. 308 of 1997 ) with the consent of the Minister for Finance hereby makes the following regulations:--

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health (In-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 1999.

2. Article 4 of the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987 ( S.I. No. 116 of 1987 ) (as amended by article 2 of the Health (In-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 1997 ( S.I. No. 510 of 1997 )) is hereby amended by the substitution for sub-article (2) of the following:

“(2) The charge referred to in sub-article 4 (1) shall be at the rate of £26 in respect of each day, subject to a maximum payment of £260 in any period of twelve consecutive months, during which the person is maintained as an in-patient provided that in calculating the charge, where such person is so maintained for a single period of more than one day, no account shall be taken of the final day.”.

3. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 2000.

The Minister for Finance consents to these regulations.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations amend the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987 and 1997 by raising the daily charge for in-patient services from £25 to £26 and by raising the maximum amount payable in any period of twelve consecutive months from £250 to £260. The usual exemptions, which include medical card holders, and hardship provision shall continue to apply. The increase in the charge comes into effect on 1 January, 2000.