S.I. No. 509/1997:

HEALTH (OUTPATIENT CHARGES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1997

HEALTH (OUTPATIENT CHARGES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1997

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 I of the Health (Amendment) Act, 1987 (No. 3 of 1987) 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, 1997.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 1998.

3. Article 4 of the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1994 ( S.I. No. 37 of 1994 ) is hereby amended by the substitution of £20 for £12 in sub-article (2).

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister

for Health and Children, this 17th day of

December 1997.

Brian Cowen

Minister for Health and Children

The Minister for Finance consents to these

regulations.

Given under the Official Seal of the Minister for

Finance, this 17th day of December 1997.

Charlie McCreevy

Minister for Finance

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations provide that instead of the £12 charge for outpatient services introduced in March 1994 a charge of £20 shall be introduced from 1 January 1998 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 and hardship provision shall continue to apply.