Ambulance Charge in Cork/Kerry

MazyMo

Just wondered if anyone knows if the Southern Health Board (Cork/Kerry) usually make an ambulance charge to someone who calls the emergency number to request an ambulance in an emergency?

If they do, do you know how much they charge?

rymus

they charge alright. A few years ago when my sister came off her motorbike someone phoned an ambulance and a few days/week later a bill came in the door from the SHB for a few hundred quid. I cant remember the exact amount, maybe you'll be able to find some info on www.shb.ie?

MazyMo

I would have thought - maybe I'm completely wrong in thinking this - that the fire brigade would be much more expensive than an ambulance.

Though according to this link

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/public_utilities/fire_services.html

the fire brigade fee for chimney fires is between €90 & €130.

I wonder why the ambulance charge was a few hundred.

rymus

Originally posted by MazyMo
I wonder why the ambulance charge was a few hundred.

maybe cos my sister is an awkward bitch?

...also, thought that fire brigade charge was per hour?!?

MazyMo

I found out from the Health Board that the minimum charge for an ambulance called out in an emergency situation to non-medical card holders is € 75

Journeys exceeding a 25 mile radius to the hospital are charged at € 3 per mile

The maximum charge is € 450.

So, maybe she was a long distance from the hospital??

Also, apparently in Cork City & Co.Cork the fire brigade do not charge for domestic fires.

Wow! Something that's free...

rymus

funny as it may seem... she was on the road outside the CUH. She could have limped or crawled the 500/600 metres to the A&E department. But no.. some moron called an ambulance for a minor accident.

sceptre

Originally posted by rymus
funny as it may seem... she was on the road outside the CUH. She could have limped or crawled the 500/600 metres to the A&E department. But no.. some moron called an ambulance for a minor accident.

That brings up (what for me is) an interesting question.

Let's say you're lying half-dead on the street and I call an ambulance to take you to the hospital. Can they actually make you pay given that you didn't agree to the service?

(purely from a normal contract legal POV the answer would be a quick "no" but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience here)

MazyMo

rymus, if I was your sister I'd check with the hospital and ask why I was charged a few hundred.

She could possibly get a refund if they've overcharged; according to the figures they supplied me with, they should only have charged €75