Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This relates to emergency medical cards and emergency relief where patients are suffering from a particular life-threatening situation and the need to issue a medical card quickly. It is true to say that a patient who has a life-threatening illness has enough worries but some are forced to wait again and again and are told they must apply again. The last thing that should be on the mind of the patient should be the delay in applying again. They do not want very much. All they want is a bit of consideration, compassion and a little bit of movement, particularly where the hospitals have issued the request for the medical card.

They know what the condition is and the circumstances, but there is a dragging out of the whole situation to the extent that the deciding officer is making a suggestion on the seeking of further conclusive evidence. For heaven's sake, the hospital has already indicated what is required.

I am referring to two particular cards but I am not using the people's names. There was a call to my office this evening from the Department to suggest one card has been granted. One card has not been granted. A card was granted to a person with the same name. It was not the same person at all. The issue was such that I decided all the cases should be dealt with globally and finished with. Is it possible to indicate to the HSE the urgent need to respond and alleviate the stress on the patients? They are under enough stress already. It should not be necessary for them to repeat the nature of their condition time and again. They have life-threatening conditions. I call for an immediate response in all the cases concerned and all cases that are pending. What I am calling for will not bring the nation to a halt. It involves a simple expression of compassion and concern to alleviate the stress of patients and make life a little easier for them.

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