Health Minister James Reilly has deferred the introduction of controversial new private bed charges in public hospitals until next year.

This is the second time these charges have been deferred, having been originally postponed last year.

The new charges, which will now be introduced next January, include a €1,000 overnight rate for a private bed in a public hospital. Under the new charges regime, all private patients in public hospitals will be charged, even if they are occupying a public bed.

Health Minister James Reilly told the Dail this week that  an independent assessment of private patient activity and charges would be be carried out prior to the introduction of the new charges regime.

Private health insurers have claimed that the new charges, when introduced, could lead to a 30% increase in premia, but this has been disputed by Dr Reilly.

According to a report in the Irish Times, this postponed income resulting from the deferral of the new charges will be generated from advance payments from health insurers for private treatment costs in public hospitals this year.

The Minister said if necessary he will amend current hospital charges in the autumn to the deliver the €30 million earmarked for income from the charges this year.

Perpetuating a privte healthcare scan