In-patient charges have been causing people in the Shannonside region to discharge themselves early from Hospitals.
Roscommon based Senator Eugene Murphy described the issue in response to the ending of in-patient charges at midnight last night.
The charge of 80 Euro per day or 800 Euro per year ended at 12am today under measures signalled in Budget 2023.
Senator Murphy says the ending of day charges removes the burden on financially-stretched individuals requiring hospital treatment.
'I know for a fact that there were people who would remove themselves from Hospital a day or two earlier as they would be demanding to get out. They just simply could not afford to have to pay that eight hundred and there are so many people who are on low to middle income who would find it difficult to come up with that money if they had to . The fee is gone now and I am so delighted that it is gone especially if you are a day in the hospital.'
