Search Results for 'Healthcare in the Republic of Ireland'

The recent VHI hike of 45 per cent in charges must be reversed, the Fine Gael spokesperson on Social Protection, Deputy Michael Ring, has demanded.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has strongly criticised the announcement by the VHI to increase premiums this year by up to 45 per cent.

Probably the worst aspect of the outrageous VHI premium hikes up to 45 per cent as announced this month is the fact that, with so many millions pumped into the public health service over the years, people in this country need to have private health insurance at all. Not so long ago — a mere six months ago actually — the outgoing chief executive of the HSE - Professor Brendan Drumm, suggested that improvements in the HSE were so progressive it would make complete sense for everyone to use the public health service. He consequently foresaw a day where people simply would not have a need to take out private health insurance at all.

The decision by VHI to hike premium levels by up to 45 per cent in some instances means that hard-pressed families with private VHI Healthcare are facing a massive €331 hike in fees to keep parents-and-children cover.

A local city councillor has warned that the massive hike in VHI premiums will result in more people reducing or dropping their private health insurance which will put additional pressure on the already overburdened public healthcare system.

Kilkenny VHI members are to be landed with a 15 per cent hike n their private health insurance bill from February this year.

More than one third of patients currently treated at University Hospital Galway could be cared for instead at Portiuncula and Roscommon hospitals, according to the HSE.

There was concern expressed this week regarding the implications for A&E departments at private hospitals such as the Galway Clinic if a new VHI deal goes ahead.

Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has criticised the decision of An Bord Altranais (regulatory authority for nurses and midwives) to increase the annual registration fee for nurses from January 1.

Six years after the formation of the HSE the difference in responsibilities of the executive and the Department of Health still remain unclear, according to Senator John Paul Phelan.