asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the considerable delay experienced by medical card holders who apply to the Dublin Health Authority for surgical and medical equipment; and that they are obliged to wait for many weeks, although persons paying privately for similar equipment are able to get it without delay; and if he will have action taken to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Surgical Equipment.
40.
I am aware that delay is experienced by persons covered by medical cards in obtaining surgical and medical equipment through Dublin Health Authority, and in August last I asked the authority to examine their administrative procedures for dealing with such cases in order to minimise delay. This examination is proceeding.
In a number of cases, however, delay is unavoidable; for example, the patient may delay in contacting the suppliers for measurement; the advice of the patient's doctor may have to be sought on the application or the equipment required may not be readily available.
I do not accept the statement in the Deputy's question that persons paying privately for similar equipment are able to get it without delay. My information is that generally suppliers do not give precedence to orders from private patients and that, while they are not subject to the inevitable time lag involved in examination of their application by the health authority, such patients may have in some cases to wait for quite lengthy periods for certain appliances.
Would the Minister examine a recent case in which a patient had a steel stay put on his legs about three months ago ? When the stay broke in an accident recently, he was informed by the health authority that it would be at least ten weeks before a new stay would be provided through the health authority. At the same time he was informed by an official that if he made the necessary private arrangements for the purchase and supply of a stay, there would be no delay. In fact he did this and the new stay was provided within four or five days. Will the Minister ensure that this man is refunded the cost of the new stay by the health authority without further delay ?
If the Deputy gives me particulars of any individual case, I will look into it.