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

I also draw attention to the fact that some patients may be suffering from a hospital misadventure, which places considerable burden on the family in financial ways, as well as due to the trauma within the family of such a situation. I plead that consideration might be given to awarding a full medical card to those patients in the interim period because they should not have to wait until a court case decides, maybe four, five, or ten years later, when it is impossible to address the situation of diminishing income within the family.

The last point I make is that I agree the number of medical cards is growing, as is the population, and therefore more people are coming into the bracket. However, I go back to the last financial review of the eligibility for medical cards and ask the Minister if he might consider having that reviewed again.

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