Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

May I proceed? Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The number of individuals who had eligibility to a medical card or a GP visit card on a discretionary basis on 1 January in 2009 was 93,000 and 78,000 in 2013. As I said, 22,584 have moved on to full medical cards. In cases of emergency situations, the HSE has a system in place for the provision of emergency medical cards for patients who are seriously ill and in urgent need of medical care they cannot afford. I think that is clear. The HSE issues emergency cards to such people within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and a letter of confirmation of their condition from a doctor or medical consultant. I think that is pretty clear. With the exception of terminally ill patients, the HSE issues all emergency cards on the basis that the patient is eligible for a medical card because of his or her circumstances and the application is followed up with a full application by that person in due course.

Where a person is terminally ill, a slightly different category is applied. Once the terminal illness is verified, patients are given an emergency medical card on a six monthly rolling basis, as would be right and proper. Given the nature of the issues involved with terminal illness, the HSE has the capacity to ensure the person gets that card as quickly as possible.

If there is no change to the policy, why are there so many appeals? More people have medical cards than ever before.

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