The Cabinet on Wednesday considered proposals to provide indemnity cover for the treatment of public patients in private hospitals as part of any new deal. It is understood that the State could take over more than 30 per cent capacity “by mutual agreement” . The preference of the Department of Health and the HSE is to use capacity in private hospitals to provide time-critical non-Covid care for public patients. Ministers were told that the private hospitals did indicate that they remained prepared to support the State in the event of a further surge. PaymentUnder the proposal about 15 per cent of capacity could be taken over if Covid-19 levels reached a certain threshold, rising to 30 per cent if the position should deteriorate further.

Source: The Irish Times January 06, 2021 21:11 UTC