Patient Charges

The Department of Health & Children decides the public hospital rates for the emergency department, daily in-patient charges and day cases.

Any patient without a medical card or with a GP only visit card must pay for the services given to them (these are called statutory charges).

However, hospital services are free to the following groups of people:

When you attend the Emergency Department

• If you have a medical card
• If you are getting treatment for some infectious disease
• If you are admitted to hospital from the Emergency Department (then you will be billed for in-patient or day charges)
• If you have a referral letter from your GP
• If you are a member of the defence forces or a dependant
• If you are entitled to hospital services because of EU regulations

When you are in in-patient

• If you have a medical card
• If you are getting treatment for some infectious disease
• If you are a member of the defence forces or a dependant
• If you have paid the maximum charge in another hospital
• If you are entitled to hospital services because of EU regulations