Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Healy is correct. It is very frustrating, annoying and upsetting, particularly for the families and patients who are dealing with the primary care reimbursement service, PCRS. There is an ongoing difficulty there, despite the fact that there are many committed staff who are doing tremendous work. One of the biggest problems is that there is inconsistency among whom one deals with on the telephone. I realise the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, announced a new streamlined process but that process is not helping the families concerned. There is inordinate delay, which is unacceptable. If cancer patients apply for a medical card, in some cases they must wait months to get it. The committee might take that up further with the HSE, rather than just the Minister doing so. This committee and public representatives working on behalf of constituents have found that there is inordinate delay in many cases. Good work is being done and it would be unfair to paint all of the staff in the PCRS in a bad light, but I hope the process will be improved. It has been frustrating for many of us, so one can imagine how it must feel for a patient or a person seeking a medical card.