Through our offices, we all have the lovely honour of helping and supporting older people in our communities, particularly when it comes to filling out forms, which is a bit part of what they have to do. At present, people over 65 years of age repeatedly have to ask their GPs to certify similar information for things such as medical cards, housing adaption grants, mobility or travel schemes, respite care applications, living alone allowance, household benefit packages and other disability or care supports. There are a lot of examples in this regard. Each application can require another GP appointment and another fee, which is stressful and takes up a lot of time. These appointments all ask the same questions, however. I propose that we look at the possibility of an annual older person’s health passport. A GP would complete one comprehensive assessment each year. Departments and local authorities could accept that certified assessment, rather than requiring new medical evidence every time someone applies for another support. Obviously, if information needs to be added to the passport in the event of an emergency situation, that is grand.

For older people, it would mean one medical assessment instead of several such appointments. There would be less stress and paperwork for them, as well as fewer GP appointments, resulting in lower costs where GP forms are charged and faster access to supports. For GPs, there would be less repetitive administrative work and more clinical time for patients. We desperately need this in County Meath. We have the fewest number of GPs per capita in the country. It is very hard to get an appointment. People have to wait two weeks. What I am proposing would help that situation.

For the Government, there would be reduced duplication across Departments, faster processing of applications, lower administrative costs and better consistency in medical assessments. For the local authorities, the housing adaption grants and older supports with which they deal could be processed way quicker.

This matters because Ireland has an ageing population. We often talk about helping people age with dignity within their homes, but we have to make the system easier to navigate. An 80-year old living alone should not have to complete five or six separate medical forms in a year, repeating the same information for different public bodies. One trusted annual health certification could reduce bureaucracy, save public money, free up GP time and make life considerably easier for older people and their families. I will bring this matter to the attention of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I will push for this measure, but I ask the Acting Leader to request a debate or to write to the Minister informing her that the Seanad thinks it would be a great idea.