Healthcare services in Ireland (2024)

Introduction

Both private and public healthcare services are available in Ireland.

Private healthcare services are provided by individual health professionalsor healthcare companies. You usually pay the full cost of private healthservices. You can take out privatehealth insurance to help meet the cost of private healthcare.

Public health services are supported by the State. Many public healthservices are free of charge but in some cases there may be a fee.

The Health Service Executive(HSE) is responsible for the delivery of public health services. Sometimesthe HSE provides these services directly and sometimes the HSE funds otherorganisations to provide these services.

You are covered by public health services if you have been living in Irelandfor at least a year or you intend to live here for at least one year. This iscalled being ordinarilyresident in Ireland.

Somevisitors may be entitled to public health services, for example, peoplefrom other countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) or from Switzerland.

If you are resident in Ireland, you can access healthcare inEurope.

General Practitioners (familydoctors)

General Practitioners (GPs) are family doctors. A GP is often the firstdoctor people see about a health problem.

You can find a GP in your area using the HSE Service Finder Map.Some GPs will also arrange home visits.

GPs provide referrals to more specialised doctors called consultants. Youcannot see a consultant for the first time without a referral from a GP.

If you need to see a GP outside clinic hours, you can contact your local GPout of hours service.

Medical cards and GP visit cards

Medical card

If your income is below a certain level you may get a medical card(Some people can get a card without an income test, for example, people who areentitled to a card under EU regulations).

With a medical card you can get public health services free of charge,including doctorvisits and publichospital services.

The medical card covers the cost of prescription medicines but you pay a setcharge when you get the medicines – this prescriptioncharge is the same for each item.

GP visit card

If your income is above the limit for a medical card, you may be able to geta GP visitcard. It has an income test with a higher limit. The GP visit card onlycovers free visits to your family doctor.

All children under the age of 6 can get a GP visit card. The GP visit cardis available to everyone aged over 70, without an income test.

Pharmacies and prescribed drugs

Your pharmacist (or chemist, as they are also known) provides drugs andmedicines. They can offer you advice and can also guide you to other healthprofessionals or community services, if you need them.

You can find your local pharmacy using the HSE’s interactiveservice finder map.

There is a setprescription charge for medical card holders. If you don’t have a medicalcard, the DrugsPayment Scheme limits the amount you spend on prescribed drugs. Peoplesuffering from certain conditions can get free medicines for the treatment ofthose conditions under the Long Term IllnessScheme.

Some pharmacies offer a pharmacy-basedneedle exchange which allows you to pick up sterile injecting equipment andreturn used items. They can also refer you to appropriate services likeaddiction treatment and counselling centres.

Local health centres

There are local health centers in each area that provide different healthservices. The range of services provided varies in different areas but caninclude nursing care, chiropody, speech therapy, physiotherapy, mental healthservices and more.

You can access community health and personal social services through your Local Health Office.

Sometimes health services can be provided in your own home. If you aged 65or over or have a disability, you may be able to get support at home throughthe HomeSupport Service.

Hospital services

You can be referred to hospital as a public patient or as a private patient.This section gives an introduction to this system. You can readdetailed information about hospital charges.

You may use hospitalservices as an out-patient or an in-patient.

Out-patient services

You may be referred by your family doctor (GP) to the out-patient departmentof a public hospital - for example, to be seen by a specialist consultant orfor diagnostic tests like x-rays.

Accident and emergency services are outpatient services and if you arereferred by a GP there is no charge. If you visit an accident and emergencydepartment without being referred by a GP there is a set charge.

To visit a consultant (medical specialist) you must be referred by a GP. Asa public patient, you do not have to pay for the consultant’s services andyou do not get to choose your consultant. In many areas, there are waitinglists for non-emergency services.

If you choose to be referred to a consultant as a private patient, you payfor the consultant’s services. Private hospitals set their own charges. Ifyou have privatehealth insurance, it may cover some or all of the charges.

In-patient services

You may be admitted to hospital as an in-patient under the care of aconsultant.

If you are in a public hospital as a public patient, and you do not have amedical card, there is a set daily in-patient charge. There is maximum limit tohow much you will be charged over a 12-month period.

If you are admitted to a public hospital as a private patient of aconsultant, you pay a different daily in-patient hospital charge.

Other services

The range of health services provided by the HSE includes:

• Community care services
• Maternity and infant care
• Health services for children
• Health services for people with disabilities
• Health services for older people
• Mental health services
• Dental care, eye sight and hearing services
• Emergency health services

Tax relief and other supports

You can claim taxrelief on medical expenses. There are a number of taxcredits and reliefs for people with disabilities.

There are socialwelfare benefits for people who are sick or have a disability. There arealso paymentsand benefits for carers.

How to make a complaint about ahealthcare provider

There is a complaintssystem for public health services that are provided by or on behalf of theHSE.

If you are making a complaint about a private health service, you cancomplain directly to the private service provider or contact the regulatingbody. You do not have the option of complaining to the HSE or to the Ombudsmanor the Ombudsman for Children.