Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have no problem with the HSE in this instance. It has provided me with every date and every piece of correspondence sent out. My argument is that the service, which is funded by the HSE, did not inform the family. There was no communication at all with them that the medical card was up for review. The service providers let it lapse, but what they said to me when I met with them was "They didn't need the medical card. We're providing the GP in our service." My question is why one would do that when everyone is strapped for cash and they are all looking for funding. Why would one volunteer to pay out of one's own pocket for medication when that person is entitled to it for free on a medical card? I have since been told that they had applied for a medical card. I checked with the medical cards office last week and it has no record of anything being applied for in the last year. There is a huge lack of transparency in this matter. Money is being provided to this service and the providers should be accountable for this. There are 123 people living in this residential service. Does that mean that 123 people had no medical cards and had doctor's services paid for when they were all entitled to free treatment?