Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

Over the period the over 70s have had free access to medical cards there is scientific evidence in studies that their health has improved. In that context the Government knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. During the period of universal entitlement, because the elderly were able to go to their GPs, have flu vaccines and have their blood pressure checked, the outcomes were that fewer people over 70 were described as disabled than in the period before free access. There is real scientific evidence in a study published in the Irish Medical Journal that there was an improvement in the health of over 70s during that period.

In taking away the entitlement the Government is taking a retrograde step. In accordance with the policies the Minister has enunciated to have more people cared for in the community, to keep people out of hospitals and to have people attend primary care, in taking away the entitlement to a free medical card for the over 70s she is taking away the kinds of services that were keeping elderly people out of hospital. The other aspect is that if they do not have a medical card, not only do they not have access to a GP and their medicines, they also do not have access to public health nurses, physiotherapists and the other supports that are vital in keeping elderly people in their homes. Although the Minister says she wants to keep people in their own homes and in the community, one of the direct results of taking medical cards from the over 70s is that more of them will need to go into hospital and other more costly services which are not good for the community, not good for the elderly person and not good for the Government's budget. We should learn from what has happened in those seven years.

The other aspect of taking something from people who have had it is that it takes away the certainty they have come to rely on over the years. When we first heard there would be a U-turn today we thought the Government might allow the over 70s who already have the medical card to retain it. However, that is not the case. There is a particular dishonesty in suggesting and implying, as I heard one Fianna Fáil backbencher do on radio today, that a blind eye would be turned towards people who held on to the card even if their income was over the limit. Whatever else about elderly people, they are honest. People were horrified at the idea that they might try to hold on to the card if they did not qualify. An element of uncertainty has been introduced which is a serious problem for elderly people.

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