Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ireland has an ageing population, but thankfully life expectancy has increased. Some of us, unfortunately, get sick, develop cancer, terminal illness or chronic conditions. This is a time when some people who do not qualify for a medical card need it most. The application process can be quite difficult if one is ill, recently diagnosed, traumatised and vulnerable.

Many Oireachtas Members have staff throughout the State who, at times, assist when people find it difficult to fill in forms, especially those people who are not online. A diagnosis of terminal illness is an automatic entitlement to a medical card, but a diagnosis of cancer, which also has a poor outcome but maybe a longer timeline, does not entitle the patient automatically to a medical card. Some people who apply for a medical card find the process difficult enough in normal circumstances. When one is extremely sick and devastated with a prognosis such as cancer, this can prove very difficult and trying.

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