Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputy Kelleher on tabling this motion. I am glad I made it back to the Chamber in time for this debate. I was on the run. Deputy Kelleher has made it clear that the number of discretionary medical cards decreased by approximately 17,000 in the 12-month period from the start of 2011 to the start of 2012. He has accepted that discretionary medical cards are for sick people with serious illnesses. As the Minister knows, those who have to deal with serious illness can face major financial hardship. All Deputies are aware of what is happening as people lose their medical cards. This issue has been raised in many parliamentary questions and on Topical Issues.

One of the points that has been made about discretionary medical cards is that it used to be possible for one to be granted such a card in respect of a serious illness for a temporary period until one recovered. This does not seem to be happening at the moment. Indeed, the former Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has suggested that health cutbacks are being implemented by applying "the letter of the law" and discarding the element of discretion that formerly existed. She gave the example of people with motor neurone disease who are now finding it hard to qualify for medical cards. The chief executive officer of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association has said that she has tried many avenues in her search for answers in this regard, but she has failed to get any. I am sure the newly appointed Ombudsman will encounter the same issue when the issue of medical card applications is raised with him.

The Jack and Jill Foundation has warned that the cutbacks being imposed are making it increasingly difficult for seriously ill people to access discretionary medical cards. The Irish Medical Organisation has reported that the HSE has unilaterally cancelled certain medical cards without advising patients. I agree with the organisation that patients should not have to find out from their general practitioners that their entitlements have been withdrawn. I think that is an appalling situation. We have been told that the HSE is considering a three-year period of eligibility rather than a one-year period. This is also very worrying. It is obvious that from an administration point of view, people have to gather a huge amount of information every year to reapply for a medical card.

Like other Deputies, I can give many examples of cases that highlight the sort of issues that are arising for our constituents. I have been told by a man who has cancer and is undergoing two types of chemotherapy and radiation that it took more than six months for his application to be approved. He sent in various medical reports from his doctors. He was initially refused because his means exceeded the limit. He was not granted the card until his sick pay from his employment ceased and his only income was illness benefit.

As the card was issued for six months, from June to November 2013, he is due for review again next month. This is a very difficult situation for a man who is still on treatment. Another constituent who has multiple sclerosis had a medical card valid up to 2015. He was reviewed under the 2013 guidelines and issued with a GP visit card. After further medical evidence was submitted by the general practitioner, he received a full medical card. In another case, a person in receipt of a social welfare payment plus an income of €600 per year from land was issued with a GP visit only on review. He appealed the decision and received a full medical card. A huge number of appeals are being dealt with. A person with diabetes and high blood pressure was told he had been refused a GP visit card because his means exceeded the limit by less than €5. On appeal, this man, who is almost 70 years of age, was granted a full medical card. There is great anxiety, concern and grief throughout the country at what is happening. As one who is interested in this area, I hope the Minister of State will ensure nobody in clinical need is denied a medical card where there is significant financial distress.

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