Sir, - My dentist is in private practice. After treatment, and having paid a health levy since starting work, I sign a Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs "claims form" to confirm the work done. There are certain procedures for which the Department pays. Should I wish to have additional work carried out, e.g., a tooth crowned or root canal treatment, the Department will still pay its basic rate to the dentist regardless of any extras. That's fine by me.
My optician is also in private practice. The Department pays for eye testing and should I need replacement glasses I can have its standard pair once I sign the Department's claim form.
However, were I to choose the latest trendy glasses I would have to pay for these, less the Department's contribution to the cost of the standard pair. That's also fine by me.
Despite the fact that in both situations I have received treatment from a private practitioner, the Department pays for all or part of it. To qualify for the benefit I am not obliged to go to a public hospital or clinic.
But in another scenario the Departments acts differently and is not being consistent. I need surgery and a public hospital can do it in about two years' time or more. Here the Department will pay the full costs. I have private hospital health insurance and I can have it done in three months. I opt for this, but the Department pays nothing towards the cost because the surgery is not done in a public hospital. My private insurance will pay for most of it and I have to pay the rest.
I am at a loss to know why the Department pays nothing towards treatment in a private clinic for those of us who pay a health levy. It used to.
I fail to see the difference between treatment in a private clinic for surgery and private dental or optical treatment. For some inexplicable reason the Department does see a difference.
What is equally frustrating is that in choosing to have private treatment I free up a place in a public hospital for someone less fortunate than I, who cannot afford private cover. And the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs penalises me for doing so!
To quote our disgraced former Taoiseach, whose party brought about this situation, "It's an Irish solution to an Irish problem." - Yours, etc., Brendan M. Redmond, Hazelbrook Road, Dublin 6W.