Access to Accident & Emergency Departments

Laya Healthcare members can benefit from rapid access to expert emergency assessment and treatments in an extensive network of private A&E facilities including the Hermitage Clinic, Beacon Clinic, Blackrock Clinic, Mater Private Dublin, Mater Private Cork, and medical assessment units in select Bon Secours Hospitals. 

These private, consultant-led emergency care teams treat a wide range of minor illnesses and injuries including sports injuries, fractures, sprains or possible breaks, minor burns, and minor illnesses including fever, rashes and infections, along with more complex emergency cases. Many of the private A&Es don’t require appointments or GP referral letters, and our members benefit from access to diagnostic services, investigations and treatments as well as on-site clinical and medical teams should the need arise. 

Different levels of cover for private A&E treatment and admission to private hospitals apply across our schemes, so we advise our members to check their level of cover with us in advance if possible to ensure they fully understand what their benefits and level of cover are for treatment if they choose to be treated in a private A&E.

Is there a higher charge for going to a private A&E or can it be treated as an outpatient expense?

The majority of laya healthcare schemes allow members to claim the hospital casualty charge towards their outpatient benefit. Depending on a member’s scheme, we will reimburse between 50-75% of the hospital casualty charge in private hospitals as an outpatient expense. Other schemes allow a monetary amount to be put towards outpatient excess. 

However, we would stress that different levels of cover apply across our schemes, so we advise our members to check their level of cover with us in advance if possible to ensure they fully understand what their benefits and level of cover are for treatment if they choose to be treated in a private A&E.

Where can children be treated in this instance?

There are no age restrictions in public A&E departments. Private, consultant-led A&E departments will treat those over the age of 16 years, while Injury Units will treat from 5 years and up depending on the unit. See below table for further details.

What about late opening hours and Out of Hour service for private A&Es and Injury Clinics?

It’s worth checking opening hours and availability  in advance , as this will vary across private A&Es and different Injury Clinics. Many have flexible opening hours. The Beacon Hospital A&E, for example, is open until 7pm on weeknights and 10am - 6pm on Saturdays.

The same applies for Injury Clinics, many are open to 8pm and are open 7 days a week.