John Kelly (Labour)

I agree with Senator Bradford on the cost of health care. Last week in the Seanad, I brought up the same issue. It is wrong a GP can charge €50 for stamping a medical card application form. It is wrong a GP can charge €50 to write a letter stating a medical cardholder has backache. It is wrong a GP should charge €30 to take a medical cardholder's blood. It is wrong a GP will take money off old dears who believe that by giving him €50 they will get a better service even though they are entitled to free medical cover.

GPs are milking the private health insurance fund. I know of a person who recently went into a private hospital to have a small procedure done in a day. Two days later, she had to go to her doctor to have the stitches removed, for which the doctor charged €50. Several days later, when the doctor learned she had private health insurance, he claimed a further €230 from the insurance company for a procedure he was willing to do for €50 only two days before. Many people have medical cards as well as private health insurance. Under no circumstances should a GP have a choice between a private health insurance claim and a medical card claim. In the case I just cited, the GP should remove the stitches for free instead of milking money out of private health insurance companies for which we all pay.