asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of Dublin North-West Constituency (a) the number of current medical service cards and (b) the number of persons included on the medical register.
29.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Service Cards in North-West Dublin.
28.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of Dublin North-West Constituency the number of medical service cards which have been withdrawn since 4th October 1961, together with the number of persons adversely affected by such withdrawal.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.
As the boundaries of the Dublin North-West Constituency are not coterminous with the boundaries of dispensary districts and as the statistics kept by the Dublin Health Authority relate to such districts, that Authority is not in a position to furnish completely accurate information regarding medical cards in the constituency. I am assured, however, that the figures which I shall give to the Deputy are substantially accurate.
On 3rd November, 1961, the latest date for which information is available about 2,800 current medical cards were held by persons resident in the constituency; these cards covered about 12,000 persons, that is, holders and dependants.
I have been informed by the Dublin Health Authority that only a handful of cards were withdrawn since 4th October, 1961, from persons resident in the constituency. These cards were withdrawn where evidence became available that the holder has ceased to be, or never was, entitled to have a card. I regret that I have been unable to ascertain the precise number.
So that there may be no misunderstanding, it is as well, perhaps, that I should explain the system adopted by the Health Authority for revision of its general medical services register.
Every six months or so, the health authority displays notices in its dispensaries, clinics, etc., indicating that cards bearing certain numbers (which are those of cards issued 9-15 months previously) will cease to be current after a date about three months ahead, and inviting holders of such cards to apply for fresh cards if they wish to do so. All such applications are decided on their merits in the light of the then current circumstances of the applicant.
The health authority caused to be displayed in July last notices indicating that the "J" series of medical cards would be automatically cancelled on 1st October, 1961. Persons holding these cards were invited to re-apply for cards if they considered that they were still eligible for general medical services and wished to hold a medical card.
The number of "J" series medical cards held by persons resident in the Dublin North-West Constituency involved in this automatic cancellation by the effluxion of time announced in July and effective from 1st October was approximately 1,500. These covered about 4,400 persons. The Health Authority has informed me that without a great deal of detailed examination it would not be possible for them to state in how many of these cases fresh applications were made and new cards issued, but, as already stated, about 122,000 persons in the Constituency were covered by medical cards on 3rd November last.