Sir, – Dr Orla Hardiman has been quoted as saying that the HSE was using delaying tactics and elongating the appeals process for motor neuron disease patients applying for medical cards. Medical cards for motor neuron disease patients are not just to cover GP costs, but allow them access to ancillary primary healthcare services which is much more important.
However, Laverne McGuinness (Letters, July 23rd) stated, "The HSE's overarching goal is to ensure that medical cards are issued to people who need them most"
Which statement is the more believable?
My own patient’s experience is that after her diagnosis she applied for a discretionary medical card with a letter of support from Dr Hardiman. She found out from the HSE website that she was initially refused on the maximum time limit of 15 working days after application. However, she could not appeal that refusal until she received correspondence from the relevant office.
I directly contacted the primary care reimbursement service myself on her behalf and was advised that she was refused a medical card on discretionary grounds as the office protocol was to refuse all such applications until the patient had exhausted the process of first applying for a medical card on financial grounds and being refused there before she could apply on medical grounds. The office did advise me that she could apply for an emergency card which would last six months.
After my intervention a discretionary, not an emergency, medical card was granted, which she received at the same time that she posted in all her financial details.
Four and a half months after she was granted her medical card, she has been informed that it is going to be rescinded. She has to start the whole process of applying for a medical card on financial grounds again with fresh income and expenses data which has not changed since she sent it in to the same office a few months earlier.
Is this how we should be treating the most deserving recipients’ of healthcare in our society? – Yours, etc,
Dr WILLIAM BEHAN,
Cromwellsfort Road,
Walkinstown, Dublin 12.