Refund helpline flooded with calls
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has reassured people that there is no urgency in contacting the information line.
The National Repayments Scheme Enquiry service was set up after the recent Supreme Court judgment found a Health Bill had illegally charged elderly patients for nearly 30 years.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said: “The information line which opened this morning had been inundated with calls from 9am.”
“Due to this unprecedented volume of calls a number of people had been unable to get through.”
The HSE said no deadline had been set for people to make contact with the National Repayments Scheme Enquiry for the refund of an estimated €500 million to patients.
HSE National Steering Group chair Pat Gaughan said: “The scheme will help people or their families who believe they are due a repayment to register in advance.
“Once the scheme is finalised, money will be paid back as fairly and as quickly as possible without the need to go through a legal process.”
Anyone seeking information on the scheme can also look at www.hse.ie as well as the helpline 1800 77 77 37.
