Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In recent weeks a letter has been sent out by the HSE to haemochromatosis patients throughout County Louth informing them of a new charge to attend appointments in the venesection clinic. As and from 1 September, an €80 charge per visit will apply, up to a maximum of €800 per year, for visits to the clinic. I believe the Minister of State will accept that the imposition of this charge will deter patients who do not have the financial means from attending the clinic. It puts an unfair financial burden on people. While medical card patients are covered, for those who may be just slightly over the medical card limit, €800 is both an exorbitant and disgraceful amount to ask patients to pay.

As the Minister of State knows, haemochromatosis is a lifelong illness. Iron overload is not curable. If patients have genetic haemochromatosis, they will need to be monitored and treated for the rest of their lives. It is very serious illness if it is not monitored regularly and treated accordingly. For example, if it goes untreated, it can affect major organs such as the heart, the liver and the pancreas, and it can eventually be fatal. Therefore, the importance of regular monitoring of patients with haemochromatosis is crucial. To impose a charge of €80 per visit to the clinic without taking into account the financial means of a patient is reckless. Will the Government include haemochromatosis on the long-term illness scheme?

See this speech in context