Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

At this time of year annually, we go through the process of deciding exactly what funding will be allocated to each hospital based on hospitals’ expected activity levels. An issue that keeps being raised with my constituency office is that of home care support. If an older person goes back to his or her own home after being discharged from hospital, he or she will need help from the public health nurse. The nurse provides the older person with care, dressings and injections and makes referrals to respite and day care services. The nurse does a great deal of work for the older person. However, over-65s must have a medical card to be eligible for public health nurse visits. A 76-year-old man who visits my constituency office is €76 over the limit. He has to pay a private nurse to call to his home twice per week, costing him €120. Will the Taoiseach review the medical card situation? Cases like this one should not be addressed in isolation. The Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, recently stated that he would discharge people from hospital. When people come home, they should be looked after by public health nurses.

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