Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 192: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the extreme difficulty being experienced by applicants for medical card services whereby general practitioners are refusing to sign medical card applications due to their ongoing difficulties with her Department; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that this is now making it impossible for persons to apply for medical cards in view of the fact that community welfare officers cannot sign applications due to the absence of a general practitioner's signature; the way in which she proposes to solve this problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22089/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. My Department is not aware of widespread difficulty being experienced by applicants for medical cards in securing the services of GPs in order to access the general medical services scheme. If the Deputy is aware of a particular case where a person is experiencing any difficulty, he should bring the matter to the attention of the Health Service Executive which will investigate the matter.