There are a number of purely private hospitals that operate independently of state health services. If you opt for private care in a private hospital, you must pay the full cost of treatment and maintenance.
Private and semi-private hospital care is also provided in public and voluntary hospitals. If you opt for private care in a public or voluntary hospital, you must pay for your maintenance at a rate set from time to time, in addition to public hospital in-patient charges.
Access to private treatment in a private hospital is through referral from your family doctor. Itis not possible to get services under the public system in a private hospital. Your private health insurance may cover some or all of the costs involved. Private hospitals are free to set their own charges and patients must pay these charges.
As a private or semi-private patient in a public or voluntary hospital, you become the private patient of the consultant treating you and you must pay for that consultant's services. In addition, you also pay for the services of any other consultant who is involved in caring for you (e.g., the radiologist, anaesthetist, etc.).
Maintenance rates for treatment as a private or semi-private patient in a public or voluntary hospital are in the document Charges for hospital services.
Access to private or semi-private treatment in a private hospital is through referral from your family doctor (GP).