The parents of a 15-month-old baby who has a medium to large hole in his heart and is awaiting surgery at Crumlin Children's Hospital, have been denied a medical card by the Midland Health Board. They wanted it to cover the cost of his treatment but were told they must go on the dole to get one.
The infant, Craig Gibbons from Crettyard, Co Laois, was the subject of a special appeal to the Minister for Health by the Fianna Fail TD, Mr Tom Enright, in the Dail yesterday to grant him a "personal medical card".
Mr Enright said: "The size of the hole in his heart is such that his life is considered to be in danger." The main artery to his heart is closing, doctors say, so that his blood and oxygen intake is blocked. His condition is deteriorating "all the time" as his immune system continues to weaken and he catches cold constantly, said the Laois deputy.
Craig's mother, Anita, had to give up work to care for him. His father, Ger, is an air conditioning engineer.
According to Mr Enright, "Craig is not covered by VHI. His father has to do additional overtime to cover doctors', surgeons' and chemists' bills. Let it be clearly understood that he and his wife want a personal medical card for their son Craig only, and for no other member of the family."
He appealed to the Minister to do "everything in his power" to expedite the operation and to direct the health board to grant the ailing infant a medical card immediately.
"Guidelines are only guidelines," said the deputy. In a highly sensitive case such as this, he said, common sense, discretion and humanity should all have a part to play in the health board's ultimate decision.