The Minister for Health and Children is considering making regulations to reduce the rate of fees and associated payments payable to certain health professionals under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. This consideration includes exploring the scope for further reductions in fees for smeartaking services provided as part of CervicalCheck – The National Cervical Screening Programme.
A consultation process commenced on 7 July and will be completed by Friday 30 July. The Department of Health and Children has invited feedback in relation to a potential fee reduction to assist the Minister in her deliberations.
Written submissions should be sent by e-mail to the Department of Health and Children at FEMPIReview@health.gov.ie or by post to FEMPI Consultation, Department of Health and Children, Room 11.11, Hawkins House, Dublin 2. Submissions must arrive no later than 5.30pm on Wednesday 21 July.
The Department of Health and Children has advised that the following should be noted in relation to submissions:
• Submissions may be copied by the Department to the officials of the HSE or other health body, where appropriate
• Submissions may be made available by the Department to the Department of Finance and other departments who hold contracts with such professionals
• Written submissions may also be copied to financial, economic or legal advisors of the Department, the HSE or other health body, as appropriate, to assist in the analysis of same
• Written submissions will be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts and may be subject to release. If a person making a submission considers that any element in it is sensitive, those elements should be clearly identified and the reasons for the sensitivity should be specified. The Department will, where possible, consult with the person about any information which he/she has identified as sensitive information before making a decision in response to a request for release under the Freedom of Information Acts
Further details are available at www.dohc.ie on the public consultations page.