Statutory Instrument

S.I. NO. 653 OF 2003

Health (Out-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003

Dublin

Published by the Stationery Office

S.I. No. 653 of 2003

Health (Out-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2003

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 56 of the Health Act, 1970 ( No. 1 of 1970 ) as substituted by section 1 of the Health (Amendment) Act, 1987 ( No. 3 of 1987 ) 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 (Out-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003.

2.   These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 2004.

3.   Article 4 of the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1994 ( S.I. No. 37 of 1994 ) (as amended by Article 3 of Health (Out-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2002 ( S.I. No. 366 of 2002 ) is hereby amended by the substitution of €45 for €40 in sub-article (2).

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

The purpose of these regulations is to amend the charge set out in the Health (Out-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2002. The charge is revised from €40 to €45 in respect of attendance at accident and emergency or casualty departments where the person concerned has not been referred by a medical practitioner. The charge shall not apply where such an attendance results in hospital admission. The usual exemptions, which include medical card holders and hardship provision shall continue to apply. The revised charge comes into effect on 1 January, 2004.