Written answers
Tuesday, 31 January 2006
Department of Health and Children
Health Services
8:00 pm
Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 298: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has initiated a review of the fee arrangements in place for the provision of chiropody services; if not, when such a review will be initiated and when such a review, whether or not already initiated will be concluded; if, pending the outcome of that review, a procedure will be put in place whereby top-up fees paid by medical card holders over the age of 65 years old for chiropody services will be refunded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2946/06]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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.
There is no statutory obligation on the HSE to provide chiropody services to GMS patients. However, in practice arrangements are made to provide these services. Before the establishment of the HSE the nature of the arrangements for chiropody and the level of service provided was a matter for individual health boards and so a degree of variation in practice developed over time. Priority is usually given to certain groups of people, including people who are medical card holders aged 65 years and over. In several regions the service is provided by private chiropodists by arrangement with the HSE.
I consider that it is inappropriate for private chiropodists who are providing services on behalf of the HSE to charge patients a top-up fee, and I have conveyed this view formally to the HSE. My Department requested the HSE to initiate a review of the fee arrangements in place for the provision of chiropody services, with a view to ensuring that such additional fees will no longer be levied on persons in receipt of this service. The HSE has recently advised me that it has initiated a review of chiropody services.
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