ALLEGATIONS of inappropriate behaviour by hospital admission staff forcing patients with private health insurance to sign away their right to public treatment have been raised by Limerick City TD Willie O’Dea.
The Fianna Fáil spokesman on Social Protection said he is deeply concerned at reports that employees have attempted to harass, coerce and, in certain circumstances, bully patients into signing away their right to public care in emergency departments.
And he has called on the UL Hospitals Group to clarify if they had followed this practice and if it still continues.
He was responding to reports that there have been concerted attempts by elements within the public hospital system to increase income from patients in emergency departments who have private health insurance to waive their right to public care.
“The Health Insurance Act, passed in 2012 under James Reilly’s watch and implemented by his two successors, Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris, removed the distinction between public, semi-private and public patients in the health system.
“This type of orchestrated attempt at increasing income through means which clearly go against the ethos of a public health system cannot be tolerated,” Deputy O’Dea told the Limerick Post.
“Some of the means of convincing patients to sign waivers go completely against every code of ethics that should underpin a public health system. Many patients are in highly vulnerable states and susceptible to pressure being applied by people in positions of authority.
“The HSE is clearly struggling and is desperate for funding. However, these attempts at bullying patients to waive their right to public health care and charging their insurers, even though private care may not be provided, is immoral and wrong.
“Minister Harris must also investigate these accusations and, if they are proven to be true, respond in a swift manner”.
“The only real solution is additional funding for the public health system, and the increased recruitment and retention of staff,” he concluded.
A statement from the UL Hospitals Group explained that admission staff are required to speak with patients to establish whether they wish to be treated as a private patient and, if necessary, ask them to sign waiver forms introduced at the request of the private health insurers.
“It is always intended that admission staff will only engage in a conversation with a patient when appropriate and, in that regard, would consult with clinical staff before a patient is approached.
“They do not issue insurance forms to patients to sign in the emergency department to utilise their private health insurance.
“However when medical decision dictates that a patient requires inpatient admission, the admissions staff will interview the patient and, as part of the admissions process, they will be asked if they wish to be a public or private patient for their inpatient stay.
“If the patient requests to be treated privately it is only then the patient will be asked to sign the relevant claim forms,” the statement concluded.
by Alan Jacques
