Members fully covered in Bon Secours Hospital, Cork

23rd April 2001 - Vhi Healthcare welcomes the decision by the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork to sign a fully participating agreement with Vhi Healthcare up to end of the July in accordance with the offer made to the hospital earlier this year.

As part of that offer, Vhi Healthcare proposed that research be carried out on a potential new product. We are delighted that the hospital has agreed to defer the decision it had made to withdraw from full cover and direct payment on May 2 next for three months to allow Vhi Healthcare to complete this research.

Vhi Healthcare is committed to working very closely with the Bon Secours Hospital Cork to progress the work which has to be carried out to reach a resolution and we have written to the hospital to arrange a meeting at their earliest convenience.

Vhi Healthcare has also been in contact with the local politicians who met with the Bon Secours Hospital Cork and played an important part in persuading the hospital to defer its action.

This means that Vhi Healthcare members will be fully covered in accordance with their Vhi Healthcare plan if they are admitted to the Bon Secours Hospital Cork and that the hospital will accept direct payment from Vhi Healthcare for the benefits payable up to and including 31 July 2001.

A further 99 hospitals and treatment facilities are fully participating with Vhi Healthcare for 2001 and 97 of these accept payment directly from Vhi Healthcare providing Vhi Healthcare's 1.5 million members with the widest choice of hospital cover available.