Accessing Healthcare in Ireland under CBD

Accessing Healthcare in Ireland under CBD

Persons from other EU member states seeking to avail of healthcare in Ireland are urged to clarify their entitlement to reimbursement for same via the National Contact Point in their home country: services available under the Cross Border Directive are determined by governing legislation in the applicant's member state of residence.

The Irish hospital system contains a mix of public and private hospitals, with public hospitals treating both public and private patients. On admittance to a public hospital, patients make a choice to be treated on a public or private basis by their consultant.

There are 48 public hospitals in Ireland. For the purpose of private hospital charges, these are grouped into three categories based on hospital status and level of treatment complexity. Category 1 is comprised of Health Service Executive (HSE) regional hospitals, voluntary and joint board teaching hospitals, Category 2 includes HSE county hospitals and voluntary non-teaching hospitals, and Category 3 is made up of HSE district hospitals.

There are 21 private hospitals affiliated with the Independent Hospital Association of Ireland and involved in the provision of acute care. They collectively provide over 1 in 6 acute beds to the Irish healthcare system and employ circa 8,000 people. Private hospitals provide a range of diagnostic services, day case, inpatient and other associated acute hospital services. 

Irish Medical Council Doctors:

For queries on registered doctors in Ireland please contact:

Medical Council
Kingram House
Kingram Place
Dublin 2

Telephone +353 1 4983100
Fax +353 1 4983102
Email: info@mcirl.ie

or visit:

http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Public-Information/Check-the-Register/

Information for people from other EU Member States

For Quality standards and compliance please see the link below. www.hiqa.ie/standards/health/safer-better-healthcare

Complaints procedures and methods of seeking remedies:

Find more details on the HSE complaints procedure

However, patients accessing services in Ireland with a private hospital or with a private provider should seek confirmation of the complaints procedure specific to that healthcare provider. Most private hospitals publish their complaints procedures on their websites or make them available upon request.

Legal and administrative options available to settle disputes, including in the event of harm arising from the provision of healthcare:

The Law Society of Ireland is the professional body for solicitors and exercises statutory functions under the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 in relation to the education, admission, enrolment, discipline and regulation of the solicitors' profession. For information and advice on legal options for settling disputes with a health care provider you should visit the Law Society of Ireland website www.lawsociety.ie .

Enabling patients resident in another member state to exercise theirs rights in relation to access cross border healthcare in Ireland

A healthcare providers right to provide services:

For information specific to a healthcare provider please email crossborderdirective@hse.ie with your query and the staff of the National Contact Point will provide assistance.

All healthcare professionals who provide cross-border healthcare under the Cross-Border Directive in the State are legally obliged to have professional liability insurance.

Standards and Guidelines on quality and safety:

For information on standards and guidelines on quality and safety please visit the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

Provision on the supervision and assessment of healthcare providers:

For information on the supervision and assessment of healthcare providers please visit the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

Accessibility of hospitals for persons with disabilities:

For hospital specific information please email the relevant hospital directly or crossborderdirective@hse.ie and the staff of the National Contact Point will provide assistance with your query.

Professional Liability:

If you are intending to access healthcare in one of our private hospitals providers and you wish to ensure that hospital holds an appropriate level of professional liability insurance please email your query to catherinet.donohoe@hse.ie .

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