Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I accept there is a problem with the way in which the review of discretionary medical cards is being carried out. The number of medical cards which is in circulation now is significantly higher than it was a number of years ago. There has been a 46% increase in the total number of medical cards. Almost 600,000 additional medical cards are available now than in 2008, for example. As I understand it, and I have spoken to the Minister about this, 96% of those reviewed to date have retained their medical card.

There are a number of problems, as I see it. The first problem is that when a letter comes in the door stating that the medical card will be reviewed, it causes worry and upset and a better way has to be found of conducting the actual review. The second problem arising is that people who are reviewed once are very often reviewed again a number of times. In particular for older people, it constitutes a degree of harassment where somebody receives letters again and again within a very short period of time essentially asking the same questions. There is no justification whatever for somebody getting a letter asking if his or her child still has Down's syndrome or somebody getting a letter asking if he or she still has motor neurone disease. That type of approach must be dealt with.

In terms of solutions, a number of things can be done. Where a review takes place, there should be a freeze on that person being reviewed again for a period of time. Where it is proposed to withdraw a medical card, a reasonable period of time should be given to that person to enable them to appeal the decision and to make a case, if there are exceptional circumstances in the household or exceptional medical circumstances, for example. Perhaps a small additional inquiry should be made. I know of a case, for example, where a medical card was withdrawn where the person had moved to a nursing home. Clearly, that could be established by a small additional inquiry.

Where the medical card is being withdrawn and where issues arise in regard to access to services, which is an issue for people, the Minister has committed himself to ensuring that access to services is made available. Again, a period of time should be allowed for that.

I am very glad the Joint Committee on Health and Children is in Finglas today talking with the staff dealing with the review of the medical cards. I hope that arising from that visit, it will be possible to progress a number of practical recommendations which can address the kind of problems we all see arise from the review.

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