Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2025
848. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health whether it is normal procedure to transfer public health patients into private hospital care; and the annual cost of such transfer of care. [34221/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE’s Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Framework involves funding private hospital beds to address capacity issues and surges in demand. The UEC Framework allows access for up to 150 private beds at a cost of €1,400 per day.
Under a Ministerial agreement between the Department of Health and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPENDR) an additional €1.5 billion was provided for 2024 and €1.2 billion for Existing Level of Service (ELS) in 2025.
The HSE is also working to expand community and primary care capacity to reduce reliance on acute hospital beds. I will refer to the HSE on the matter of the details of the procedure to transfer public health patients to private hospital care.
For further insight into the procedures around public to private hospital care and the cost of transfer, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
