No in-patient public hospital charges for Kildare patients from today

There will be no in-patient public hospital charges for patients in County Kildare from today.

The news was welcomed by Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon, who said: "The statutory instrument to eliminate the acute public in-patient charge of €80 per day was signed by the Minister for Health, in accordance with the recently enacted Health (Amendment) Act 2023.

"Previously, in-patients were liable to pay a maximum of €800 per year, which included day-case charges.

"Budget 2023 allocated €23.4 billion towards our public health system and included the removal of these charges.

"This was a crucial step in reducing healthcare expenses in Kildare, for patients and their families.

Minister Heydon continued: "This move builds on the government's previous action in abolishing public in-patient charges for children under 16, introduced in September 2022.

Martin Heydon TD. File Pic.

"Fine Gael has worked to provide a quality and affordable healthcare service to everyone, especially given the challenging times the health service has faced in recent years.

"The elimination of hospital in-patient charges is an essential part of this endeavour, which will provide much-needed support to individuals and families struggling with significant cost-of-living challenges in Kildare.

"The removal of hospital in-patient charges is a significant achievement in supporting Kildare families during these challenging times.

He concluded: "The government remains committed to providing accessible and affordable healthcare services to all, and this latest move is a testament to that commitment."