Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

325. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a person (details supplied) who survived sympysiotomy with their medical records including the records associated with their five births; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46987/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme commenced on 10th November 2014. The Assessor for the Scheme is former High Court Judge Maureen Harding Clark. The Scheme has around €34 million available and participants will receive awards at three levels - €50,000, €100,000 and €150,000.

Applications had to be made to the Scheme within 20 working days of the Commencement Date. The Closing Date for receipt of applications was therefore Friday 5 December 2014. The Terms of the Scheme specify that in exceptional circumstances, Judge Clark has discretion to extend the time for receipt of applications by an additional 20 working days, that is, to Wednesday, 14 January 2015. It is important to note that in the event of a delay arising in the compilation of a woman's supporting documentation due to difficulty in obtaining medical records, the application could be submitted within the time period set out in the Scheme with a written explanation of the reasons for the absence of the documentation. The details of this provision are set out in the Terms of the Scheme on its website: www.payment-scheme.gov.ie

Regarding the Deputy's question relating to a person's medical records, each hospital retains medical records on patients and it is up to the person themselves (or a representative for the person) to seek those medical records directly from the hospital. I understand that the Deputy's office was contacted last week and notified that the closing date for applications was Friday 5 December 2014, advising that the woman concerned should submit her application to the Scheme with a note explaining the absence of her medical records.