Medical card refusals and review
Michael Healy-Rae requests a debate on changes to medical-card decisions and raises the case of a seriously ill constituent whose card was refused. The Taoiseach says the revised system provides greater flexibility and discretion and that the issue can be discussed with the HSE service plan.
Will time be allotted before Christmas to discuss the climbdown on medical cards the Minister for Health announced today?
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Yesterday in my constituency-----
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-----a lady who has been PEG-fed for four years and has not spoken in four years was refused her medical card on review. That has happened on the Taoiseach's watch.
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She has been PEG-fed for four years and has not spoken for four years.
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She was refused a medical card.
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I am very sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, but you would not deny me getting that in.
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The question of medical cards could be raised by the Deputy in the context of a discussion on the HSE service plan. The matter has been reviewed by the Government and the Minister has made some announcements about flexibility and greater discretion. I do not regard a system that has been assessed as being more appropriate than what was in place previously as being in any way a climbdown. This is about giving the Deputy's people and all our people the opportunity to have access to the health facilities in the fairest way possible.