Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Going back to my previous references to medical cards, and while I emphasise that I am taking into account the number of extra medical cards issued, it is tempting nonetheless to identify the number of vulnerable patients being treated for cancer or who are about to be treated for cancer and the extent to which, when we pursue their individual cases, we get a limited response. I have brought this up on numerous occasions, as has the Chair and everybody else on the committee. That would seem to indicate we are being heard but we are not being listened to. Somebody, somewhere says every other patient has a GP visit card, and that is great, but this is a particular category of patients who have a life-changing or life-threatening condition. Small things mean a lot to them, and they are not known to abuse the medical card system either. One such small thing would be to say they do not have to worry about unforeseen circumstances that might arise in the future, because they have been catered for and do not have that extra expenditure to take from the family budget. If they are outside the criteria to qualify for a medical card, when we challenge it we are told they fall outside the income limit by a small or large amount. That does not resonate with the patient or do them any good at all. They do not feel any better afterwards.

I mentioned hospital mishaps, and the Minister told us about a number of cases that have gone back to the State Claims Agency and so on. Hospital mishaps also impact on the patient in the first instance. It is no good telling a patient suffering from a hospital mishap or other accident that they can claim for it later on. The patient is affected by it now, and that can continue, putting more pressure on the patient and, as they would see it, unnecessary punishment, when a little intervention at that stage could alleviate a lot of stress and suffering.

Regarding cancer patients and others with life-threatening illnesses, there could be a small intervention like having a place to park the car in a hurry so patients do not come out after the treatment to find the car clamped. Patients have enough to bear and suffer with. This is an added extra that could and should be dealt with in the shortest possible time to help the poor unfortunate patient, to show that we know they have a problem they are going through and we are doing this simple intervention to make that burden a little lighter for them. This does not just affect the poor or less financially secure people. It is for everybody. The condition affects everybody. Cancer does not pass over patients. It affects everybody, and there are other similar conditions I have referred to.

I have raised questions about child and adolescent healthcare and the degree to which demand is growing. I appreciate that. I agree that the Minister of State has done a huge amount of work in that area and I appreciate that, but the progress is slow. It is not her fault but it is slow. I sometimes get the impression someone is asking why this nuisance is raising this question again and they respond by asking, "Are we not doing enough?" No, we are not and that is the problem. It falls on us too.