Patient Rights Checklist

You are entitled to public hospital care if ordinarily resident in Ireland

Anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland (expected to live here for at least one year) is entitled to public health services. This entitlement does not depend on PPS number or tax status alone.

Public in-patient daily charges have been abolished

Since April 2024, the Health (Amendment) Act 2023 abolished the statutory €80 daily in-patient charge and the €800 annual cap. There is no daily fee to be an in-patient in a public hospital regardless of your medical-card status.

You may be offered NTPF-funded treatment if waiting exceeds acceptable timeframes

The National Treatment Purchase Fund arranges treatment (in other public or private hospitals) for public patients whose waits exceed target timeframes. You will be contacted directly by letter or phone — you do not apply. If contacted, you keep your place on the original waiting list until the offered treatment is completed.

You can contact NTPF directly to check your status

If you believe you have been waiting too long you can contact the NTPF on 01 6427101 or email ask@ntpf.ie. They will confirm your position on the list and whether you qualify for treatment validation.

Raise concerns locally first (Stage 1)

Speak to the staff member providing care, or the person in charge on the ward. Most concerns can be resolved on the spot. Keep a written note of the date, names, and what was said.

File a formal written complaint (Stage 2)

Submit a written complaint to the HSE or hospital within 12 months of the event. A Complaints Officer will investigate. You should receive an acknowledgement within 5 working days and an outcome within 30 working days (or status update every 20 days if longer).

Request an internal review if unhappy with the outcome (Stage 3)

If you are not satisfied with the Stage 2 outcome, you can request a review by a separate Review Officer. Put the request in writing within one month of the Stage 2 response.

Escalate to the Ombudsman (Stage 4)

If still unresolved, you can complain to the Office of the Ombudsman (for adults) or the Ombudsman for Children. This is free and independent. There is no fixed deadline but sooner is better.

Use the free Patient Advocacy Service for public hospital complaints

The Patient Advocacy Service is a free, independent, confidential service that helps you make a formal complaint about a public hospital or HSE-funded nursing home. Contact 0818 293 003 or info@patientadvocacyservice.ie.

You may qualify for treatment abroad under the EU Cross-Border Directive

Under Directive 2011/24/EU, you can be treated in another EU/EEA country and claim the cost back from the HSE up to what it would have cost in Ireland. Prior authorisation is required for most inpatient/overnight care. Apply to the HSE Cross-Border Directive office before travelling.

You have the right to access your own medical records

Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR you can request a copy of your medical records from any hospital free of charge. The hospital has one month to respond. You can request the records in writing using a Subject Access Request.

You can ask your GP for a second opinion

You are entitled to request a referral for a second opinion from another consultant on the public waiting list. Your GP can arrange this. There is no fee on the public system.