Health Act, 1953

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Medical care for mothers.

16.—(1) A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available, without charge, medical, surgical, midwifery, hospital and specialist services for attendance to the health of women (being women specified in subsection (2) of this section) in respect of motherhood.

(2) The women referred to in subsection (1) of this section are:

(a) women who are in, or who are dependants of persons in, any of the classes mentioned in subsection (2) of section 15 of this Act,

(b) women by or on behalf of whom such contributions as may be required by regulations have been made towards the cost of the services under this section.

(3) The regulations referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section—

(a) shall provide that contributions shall be at the rate of the appropriate amount for each year (not being a year before marriage) in respect of which a contribution is payable, and

(b) may require the making of different numbers of contributions in different circumstances, provided that advance payments of contributions (other than current contributions) shall not be required, and

(c) shall provide that, subject to the provisions pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subsection, the appropriate amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be one pound, and

(d) shall provide that the appropriate amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall, for each successive period of five years (the first of such periods being the period of five years beginning on the day after the expiration of three years from the commencement of this section or such later day as the Minister may determine to be the earliest practicable day for the beginning of the first of such periods), be—

(i) for persons other than persons who had paid a contribution in respect of the year immediately preceding such period, either—

(I) such amount as may be fixed by the Minister for that period as the amount which will result in obtaining by contributions approximately one-half of the estimated cost, as determined by the Minister, during such period of the provision of the services for women by or on behalf of whom contributions at the rate fixed under this clause of this subparagraph are paid, or

(II) two pounds,

whichever is the less, and

(ii) for persons who had paid a contribution in respect of the year immediately preceding such period, the amount payable by that person for that year or the amount fixed by the Minister as aforesaid, whichever is the less.

(4) Regulations shall provide that any woman entitled to receive medical services under this section may receive them from such registered medical practitioner who has entered into an agreement with the health authority for the provision of those services and who is willing to accept her as a patient as she may choose.

(5) Where a woman avails of services under this section for a confinement taking place otherwise than in a hospital or maternity home, the health authority shall make available, without charge, obstetrical requisites to such extent as may be specified by regulations.