Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 197: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the progress in providing practical support and justice to the survivors of symphysiotomy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28891/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My predecessor in the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Martin, met the Survivors of Symphysiotomy, SOS, group in late 2003 and agreed that a range of measures would be put in place to support the group. My Department is advised by the Health Service Executive, HSE, that the current position in this regard is as follows: the former health boards and the relevant voluntary hospitals appointed liaison officers, who met and continue to meet with patients that have undergone symphysiotomy to discuss their health care needs; independent clinical advice is available, on request, through the liaison personnel, to patients who have undergone symphysiotomy — this has already been availed of by a number of members of SOS and appropriate follow-up has been arranged; an assessment service for patients was established at Cappagh Hospital, Dublin — this service is provided by a multidisciplinary team which undertakes an assessment of patients, following which recommendations for care pathways are discussed with individual patients; medical cards have been granted, based on medical grounds, to SOS patients who do not have such eligibility; the HSE is finalising arrangements for the issuing of replacement medical cards which will contain a special patient identifier that will allow for the fast-tracking of patients requiring hospital appointments and treatments, together with the provision of certain non-GMS items recommended for patients by their general practitioner and/or consultant — the HSE has further advised that these cards will be available in the coming weeks; in addition, medical expenses related to symphysiotomy may be refunded, where necessary, to patients in respect of medication or private treatments required to address the effects of symphysiotomy; applications for home help and modifications are dealt with on an individual basis and applications are fast-tracked, where necessary; independent counselling services are available to patients where requested; and information packs have been made available to general practitioners and relevant health care personnel.

My Department is further advised that the executive is in regular contact with the chairperson of the SOS group, and that she has expressed satisfaction with the progress made to date. It is evident from the foregoing that considerable progress has been made in putting in place a comprehensive range of support services for patients who have undergone symphysiotomy. The HSE will continue to oversee the provision of necessary support services for this patient group.