No in-patient public hospital charges for Longford patients from today
There will be no in-patient public hospital charges for patients in County Longford from today.
The news was welcomed by Fine Gael Senator Micheál Carrigy, who said: "The statutory instrument to eliminate the acute public in-patient charge of €80 per day was signed by the Minister for Health, in accordance with the recently enacted Health (Amendment) Act 2023.
"Previously, in-patients were liable to pay a maximum of €800 per year, which included day-case charges.
"Budget 2023 allocated €23.4 billion towards our public health system and included the removal of these charges.
"This was a crucial step in reducing healthcare expenses for Longford patients and their families."
Senator Carrigy continued: "This measure builds on the government's previous action in abolishing public in-patient charges for children under 16, introduced in September 2022.
"Fine Gael has worked to provide a quality and affordable healthcare service to everyone, especially given the challenging times the health service has faced in recent years.
"The elimination of hospital in-patient charges is an essential part of this endeavour, which will provide much-needed support to individuals and families struggling with significant cost-of-living challenges in Longford.
"The removal of hospital in-patient charges is a significant achievement in supporting families during these challenging times."
He concluded: "The government remains committed to providing accessible and affordable healthcare services to all, and this latest move is a testament to that commitment."