Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree there should be common sense shown in the approach to this issue. There is a middle ground that needs to be achieved, which is called neither "maximum" nor "minimum" but is just common sense. I reiterate that the service provided by the HSE operates on a person-centred, person-specific basis to fulfil patients' clinically determined needs. I assure the House there is no rationing of these products, which are provided to people as they need them. That is important when people are making telephone calls or trying to reassure families. There is no limit set out and no rationing taking place.

The HSE operates a flexible home delivery service, which currently provides incontinence wear products to more than 70,000 people. It also operates a bulk delivery system to community nursing homes and residential care settings. This is to ensure each person receives incontinence wear products as he or she needs them. The improved provision of incontinence wear products to eligible persons nationwide is rightly viewed by the HSE as one of the indications that the national service improvement programme can deliver. The reimbursement support for incontinence wear products available under the drug payment scheme ensures all persons, including those who do not have full eligibility, can avail of such products as they need them.

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