Hospital charges for kids have been abolished from today under a new law change from Health Minister Stephen Donnelly that kicked in at midnight.
The change could save parents up to €800 a year in hospital visit fees after Minister Donnelly got approval from his Cabinet colleagues to quash the fees from midnight last night.
Up until today, children were subject to a statutory inpatient charge of €80 per day, up to a maximum of 10 days, or €800, in a year.
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Legislation was needed to get rid of the fees for Under 16s and Mr Donnelly got the green light for this in April, but it was not until today that the fees were finally scrapped.
A source close to Minister Donnelly said: “The abolition of these charges will ease the financial burden of parents/guardians when bringing their child to hospital for in-patient care and help ensure that cost is not a significant consideration when children require access to in-patient treatment.
“The abolition of these charges will save parents up to €800 per year per child needing inpatient treatment in a public hospital.
“The charges have been in place for many years but legislation enacted in the summer allows for their removal.”
He added: “The Government is committed to the introduction of GP care without charges to children aged six and seven this year.
“Negotiations are underway with the IMO to permit the introduction of the service.”
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