Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

There is no statutory obligation on the Health Service Executive to provide chiropody services to General Medical Service patients. However, in practice, arrangements are made to provide these services. Prior to the establishment of the HSE, the nature of arrangements for chiropody and the level of service provided were matters for individual health boards and variation in practice developed over time. Priority is usually given to certain groups of people, including people aged 65 years and over who are medical card holders. In several regions the service is provided by private chiropodists by arrangement with the HSE.

It is inappropriate for private chiropodists who provide services on behalf of the HSE to charge patients a top-up fee, and I have conveyed this view formally to the HSE. My Department recently requested the HSE to initiate a review of the fee arrangements in place for the provision of chiropody services with a view to ensuring that such additional fees would no longer be levied on persons in receipt of this service. I am preparing new legislation on eligibility and entitlement which will clarify patients' entitlements, especially in the GMS.

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