Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I would like an opportunity to outline the improvements that were initiated recently. The HSE has introduced a self-assessment system for all medical card holders aged over 66. The system is also being introduced for people under the age of 66 who received a medical card on the basis of means. We will have a system, therefore, under which people will be required to declare that their circumstances have not changed since they were awarded a medical card previously. It is a straightforward form and if they do that, the medical card will be renewed automatically on a self-assessment basis. In time, spot checks will be introduced but a self-assessment system has been put in place for more than 80% of people seeking medical card renewals.

The HSE is standardising eligibility periods from two to three years for people aged under 66 while the period is being extended to four years for people aged over 66. The executive is providing GPs with a facility to maintain the eligibility of vulnerable patients until their application has been completed.

The issue of staff was raised. An additional 20 staff were provided to the PCRS during January and this will greatly enhance the services available and enable the office to provide a better service to everybody. With regard to emergency medical cards, there is now a facility whereby GPs can have an urgent medical card issued without delay once they have validated the application. That service kicked in over the past few weeks. I was concerned that problems were emerging with the appeals system. However, additional staff were deployed in the appeals office, which has given an undertaking that the backlog will be addressed in the next month.

While I do not dispute there have been serious difficulties, steps have been taken and I hope within the next few weeks to provide a full briefing to every Member of both Houses regarding those changes and regarding how they can interact more effectively with the PCRS to obtain details quickly regarding the concerns of their constituents.

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