S.I. No. 510/1997:

HEALTH (INPATIENT CHARGES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1997

HEALTH (INPATIENT 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 53 of the Health Act, 1970 (No. 1 of 1970) 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, 1997.

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 1994 ( S.I. No. 38 of 1994 )) 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 £25 in respect of each day, subject to a maximum payment of £250 in any period of twelve consecutive months, during which the person is maintained as an inpatient 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, 1998.

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 amend the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987 and 1994 by raising the daily charge for inpatient services from £20 to £25 and by raising the maximum amount payable in any period of twelve consecutive months from £200 to £250.