Help, a&e in Ireland?

[Uktoireland]

Hey

just wanted to double check in case anyone on here knows

I’m travelling to Ireland soon. I have a condition which sometimes makes me unwell and I have to go to A&e ( think epilepsy, asthma, that type of thing) it’s controlled at the moment but obviously it’s always in the back of my mind to be prepared in case it flares up and I have to access emergency treatment

for abroad I’d take out travel health insurance but from the NHS and gov website it’s unclear if this is required for going to Ireland. It says as long as you have a drivers license and photo ID you can get emergency care but it’s not clear if this is free or charged, but then I’ve also seen online that you need a GHIC/EHIC and that sometimes you have to pay upfront for treatment and claim back of the NHS

I have a driving license but no GHIC/EHIC and not enough time to get one

just a bit unsure what to do- I’ll take out travel health insurance just in case but not sure if it’s even necessary as from the sounds of it you can access emergency care without this? But just unclear if you have to pay for it upfront or not?

i know in ROI they pay 100e to go to a&e but obviously as a UK citizen I’m not sure if I’d have to pay the full amount which would be much much more

hopefully it won’t be necessary but just want to be prepared just in case

does anyone know anything? Thanks x

Ah now, the country’s name isn’t Southern Ireland. (Sorry, I know I’m being a pain, but it’s just so bloody annoying. And people keep on doing it.)

No help to you OP as I don’t know the regulations, but I actually think the €100 charge in Ireland’s a and e’s really unfair. There are some long term illnesses where people are told to present straight to emergency depts rather than go to gp if they have issues - as they are emergency situations - but they still have to pay the higher figure (gps are cheaper).

Anyway, I’m obviously in bad form this morning so I’ll wander off for a coffee now!!😅
Enjoy your visit OP and hope all goes well.

People with long term illnes can apply for a medical card.
Note if they cant qualify for a card they can (should) ask the hospital to consider rhe LTI as a special circumstance
https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/patient-care/hospital-charges/

Thanks, but only certain illnesses qualify unfortunately @AnSolas. I didn’t know you could ask the hospital to consider the LTI as a special circumstance though. How does that work?

I mean, when we’ve presented to a and e before it would be clear from the condition itself that it’s a long term one, but we’ve always been charged as usual.

I had.My first gall stones attack when I was in the Republic of Ireland a few.years ago. I.visited a GP. Didn't have to pay for that they wanted my address and NI number, they also gave me a letter for a&e so if I needed to go there I wouldn't get charged

Are you actually serious?

I am not sure but if you dont pay on the day the hospital i think issue you with an invoice so have a billing department which seeks payment.
You should google your local hospital for an email or phone number and speak to them directly.
Or if you are under a hospital team they may be able to refer you to the social worker.

Once my kid had to go to A&E and a couple of weeks later the billing dept called up asking for payment. We were really tight for money at the time and I gave it to them. I told them any payment would just add to our cc debt.

They didn't call back and I never paid it.

If you genuinely don't have money there are people with kind hearts in the HSE.

Especially since GP appointments are so difficult to get now I find the payment really unfair.

Thanks very much @booksunderthebed and @AnSolas.

I can pay it - just about though. I would prefer not to as there are lot of other places I could use it and I am struggling as many are especially with COL increases. I suppose I just see it as a bit unfair as the GP isn’t an option and we’re not timewasters. I’m not sure why some illnesses qualify for the scheme and not others. There is a society to support this condition. I should take it up with them and lobby to get it included in the exemption list really.

Sorry OP, off the point I know.

also, we once had to go to a and e in Derry and I don't think were asked for any documentation.

Do you mean Cork? Or Kerry?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-for-uk-nationals-visiting-ireland

You won’t have to pay the A&E charge.

Also if you have to visit GP you won’t be charged - yes GPs are self-employed but under the reciprocal agreement UK residents are covered. GPs still get paid, they claim the costs back from the UK but the patient doesn’t pay.

I assumed most policies do? Mine covers UK stays as long as you have booked at least 2 nights' accommodation.

That's in the UK. What documentation do you imagine would have been asked for?

What you’re entitled to
If you’re ordinarily resident in the UK, you can access medically necessary state health services on the same basis as an Irish resident. You may still need to pay a fee for some services, just like an Irish resident.
You will not have to pay for hospital care including A&E or inpatient treatment.
You’ll need to pay in full for private healthcare.

Irish people have to pay the €100 so who should the OP say to send the invoice to?

How is the Irish GP going to get paid by the UK?

If you get referred by a GP you don't have to pay the A&E charge. Some long term illnesses are entitled to medical cards so you don't have to pay the A&E charge. If you tell them that you are experiencing financial hardship they will wipe your bill. There are lot of exceptions to the €100.

Seriously!!!

Off to read the policy documents .... 🫢

Thanks a million but in my case

• these are emergency situations and you’re specifically told to bypass gp and go straight to a & e
• it’s not included in the long-term illness scheme, although it is a long term condition
• the (increasingly) squeezed middle is where I am financially

So it’s tricky.

I'm not sure if you feel comfortable doing it but as far as I am aware they don't actually check your financials if you say you can't afford it. I know someone who got their hospital and A&E bill wiped(before inpatient stays were free) by literally just saying that they couldn't afford it. They genuinely couldn't afford it but the hospital had no way of knowing that they just took their word for it and said they would pass it onto the billing department or something and they never got sent a bill. I know someone else who did it with an A&E bill(they could afford it but are a tight arse).

Personally I don't think I would feel comfortable doing that but if it is genuinely putting you into hardship then you could.

There are a lot of exemptions for the a&e charge it’s not a black and white situation. Also a lot of people have gp visit cards so it’s free to go to your gp and if they refer you to a&e then it’s no charge. I earn 50k and have. GP visit cards so it’s not just for those on low wages. Others have medical cards etc. and those that have health insurance (like myself too) can claim the charge back through that.

The A&E system is awful here OP, avoid if you possibly can. It depends of course on the condition or hospital but if you are not acute you will be left waiting. I once was told I would have to wait 13 hours to see a Dr, before i was even referred for X rays or tests other than bloods. That was already having paid 65 euro to see my GP and being referred urgently. Many people didn't have chairs, some were in pain and it was horrendous. I left and paid a few 100s to see someone at a private clinic the next day, worth every penny. There are private clinics and out of hour GP centres that take private insurance or you pay upfront. Best to research the location of the one nearest and price for treatment. If you do need to go to A&E have snacks and warm layers, something to listen to or read and prepare for a very long stay.

I am not a UK resident so I don't have an NHS number or whatever it is you have.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/

@AnSolas OP doesn’t need to make any suggestions about who to send the bill to - hospitals and GPs are well aware of the reciprocal agreement and how to get reimbursed.

I’m not just posting what I think is the case, I’m providing links to UK government and NHS sites that clearly state the facts.

UK citizens on holiday in Ireland are entitled to A&E care free of charge under the reciprocal scheme. This means they don’t have to pay the €100 A&E charge. UK citizens on holiday in Ireland also do not have to pay GP charges.

Disclaimer - there are private walk-in surgeries popping up all over that most likely will charge, they don’t see medical card holders free of charge so I presume they are not under the PRCS scheme.

How will the OP know that a random private business GP pratice will know where they need to send the paperwork to to get paid by a UK body?

The GP is a private business and has no contract(?) to provide care for UK persons and are well with in their rights not to accept any non-private service user. Most GPs wont take on new Irish service users who are funded by the Irish State so I am trying to understand how they process a UK walkin?

Or are you saying the NHS has entered into a contract with Irish Gps?
If so how?

Can you copy and paste the specific section which the OP can rely on when she is asked to pay for the GP visit?

Could a person (anyone, Irish or UK) just walk into any GP surgery or even get an appointment if not on the practice list? Just wondered, maybe they can.

I'd say most people would go to the walk in GP clinics or do an online consult and pay for it, to be seen on the spot. There may be some GPs who are private patients only though, and it might be possible there I suppose.