Cost of private hospital accommodation
Naughten asked about rising private-accommodation costs in public hospitals and their impact on the VHI. O’Hanlon said increases were modest and covered by approved premium increases, so they were not causing a serious problem.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious problem caused for the VHI by the rapidly escalating cost of private accommodation in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
I do not accept that the cost of private accommodation in public hospitals has been rapidly escalating. The average increase for this accommodation was 6 per cent in 1987 and 3 per cent this year. These increases were allowed for in premium increases sanctioned for the VHI and are not causing a serious problem.