Private hospitals may be forced to close as a result of the Government's plan to charge patients with health insurance for the use of public beds in public hospitals, according to a group that represents these hospitals.

The Independent Hospitals Association of Ireland (IHAI) says the proposals will involve patients waiving their entitlement to public treatment with the result that public hospitals would then make private inpatient services available to them for a charge in many circumstances.

Health insurers have already warned that this will result in a rise of 30% in insurance premiums and a further 300,000 people leaving the health insurance market.

The IHAI says: "In this environment, independent (private) hospitals will face closures and as a result, there will be a serious reduction in the healthcare services available to the people of Ireland.

It says the Government's proposed legislation imposing the new charges was another measure that will drive the cost of health insurance up further and impact access to healthcare services for all patients as the public hospital system faces further pressure.

The plan to charge private patients occupying public beds in public hospitals was first announced by Health Minister James Reilly in late 2011 but its planned implementation was delayed.

At present, public hospitals cannot impose accomodation charges on private patients if they occupy designated public beds.

Health costs to rise again