The government is to pass legislation in the coming weeks to allow for the abolition of both overnight and day case public in-patient charges for children. This will involve removing the existing acute statutory in-patient charge of €80 per night for all children under 16 years of age in all public hospitals. Health Minister Donnelly has received approval to publish the legislation. Minister Donnelly says the intention is to ease the financial burden of parents/guardians when bringing their child to hospital for in-patient care. Currently public patients (including children) are subject to a statutory public in-patient charge of €80 per night, up to a maximum of 10 nights (€800) in a 12-month period. Medical card holders and other certain specific classes of persons are exempt from these charges
