Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask that a scheme be put in place in each of the HSE areas across the county similar to what is offered in the South/South West Hospital Group area for women who have undergone mastectomies. Supports under that scheme include refunding of the cost of a prosthesis every two years and two free bras each year. Those supports apply to both those without medical cards and medical cardholders. Will the Minister of State indicate when such a scheme will be put in place?

I am raising this matter because it is an extremely important support scheme in the South/South West Hospital Group area. It provides for a €200 allowance every two years for the purchase of a prosthesis. Where a woman has undergone bilateral surgery, the provision is €400 every two years. In addition, funding is provided every year for two bras. There is an issue in that women who have had breast reconstruction are excluded from the allowance. Patients who have had reconstructive surgery but still require a partial or full prosthesis for reasons such as infection, hormonal breast changes or removal of implants are not included in the scheme.

I am calling for a comprehensive scheme for women who have gone through a difficult time involving surgery and treatment. Having such a scheme in place is extremely important. I understand that what was available in the South/South West Hospital Group area was not available in many parts of the country. I welcome the introduction of a comprehensive scheme across the country. However, the existing scheme in the South/South West Hospital Group area has been watered down. For instance, under the new scheme, there will be an allowance for only one free bra per year, whereas provision was previously made for two. I further understand that even the allowance for two bras did not offer sufficient support, yet the proposal is to reduce it. I welcome that the scheme is being introduced right across the country but I do not agree with the decision to downgrade what was available in the South/South West Hospital Group area.

Back in 2016, there was a proposal to totally change the scheme in the Cork-Kerry area. I went to the then Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch, and, in fairness to her, she stepped in and made sure the scheme that was in place would continue. Eight years later, I make the same request that the scheme in place in the South/South West Hospital Group area remain in place and that additional supports be put in place for women who have had reconstructive surgery. It is important that this be done.

An issue of concern is that the current breast care service in the South/South West Hospital Group area funds specialised lymphoedema bras on an annual basis to help treat lymphoedema of the breast. Those women are referred for care in that hospital group area. It is not clear whether that provision will be included in the new national scheme that is being rolled out.

Another issue is that for people to receive supports, they must now fill out an application form and send it to the HSE's central office. They cannot proceed with the supports until they obtain approval. Under the old scheme, women went to the people who were providing the supports, filled out a form there and received the care they required. The care provider would send in the application for the refund to the HSE. These changes are making it more difficult for people.

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