‘A&E fees may deter patients’

PATIENTS may be forced to opt out of attending hospital Emergency Departments if charges at the units are increased in next week’s budget, a leading group has claimed.

Speaking after leaked documents suggested the existing Emergency Department charge of €100 is set to be raised, the Irish Patients Association (IPA) warned such a move would be a disaster for the public.

While patients who attended the units without a referral letter from their GP or a medical card were charged €66 in 2008, this was increased to €100 in last year’s budget.