Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 617: To ask the Minister for Health the feasibility of automatic renewal of medical cards for adults with life-long physical or intellectual disabilities in the interest of saving the time and cost of renewal of medical cards for persons in these circumstances every year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15209/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 618: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding blood tests for persons with medical cards in view of the fact that there seems to be a charge for same which is causing concern particularly for families when there are more than one having blood tests on a regular basis; his plans to provide this service free in view of the fact that the person qualified for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15207/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) is expected to provide his/her patients who hold medical cards or GP visit cards with all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP. Where blood tests form part of the investigation and necessary treatment of patients' symptoms or conditions, these should be provided free of charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The HSE also points out that, in many GP surgeries, it is the practice nurse who takes blood samples. The HSE significantly subsidises the cost of employing practice nurses.

The HSE has recently reported to my officials that it has received approximately 30 formal complaints regarding GPs charging GMS patients for blood tests and there have also been a significant number of queries to the HSE's National Information Line about this issue. Formal complaints will be dealt with through the HSE's Consumer Affairs Service.

I have requested the HSE to write to GPs pointing out their obligations under their contract in this regard. In the meantime, I would invite patients to follow up with the HSE if they believe they are being wrongly charged.