Plans lodged for private hospital at Adare Manor

WITHIN days of Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney deciding that health insurers Bupa would not have to compensate VHI for its older, costlier customer base, an application for a private hospital in the grounds of Adare Manor Hotel has been lodged with Limerick County Council.

The owner of Adare Manor, Tom Kane, said last May he would have to abandon the hospital project if Bupa quit Ireland over risk equalisation payments to the VHI.

VHI were expecting the government to demand that Bupa make yearly payments of €30 million to compensate the insurance body for insuring more elderly clients.