asked the Minister for Defence if free medical treatment for the families of serving NCOs and men has been discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Treatment for Families of Army Personnel.
65.
There has not been any change in recent years with regard to the provision of medical treatment for the families of serving NCOs and men. My Department does not accept liability for the cost of domiciliary treatment, except at Fort Dunree and in the Curragh Training Camp area where such treatment is provided by Army medical officers.
As regards hospital treatment the position is that prior to the coming into operation of the Health Act, 1953, dependants were afforded hospital treatment in public wards in approved voluntary and local authority hospitals at the expense of the Vote for Defence. In the Curragh Training Camp area, as a special case, the treatment was provided in the Families Section of the General Military Hospital there.
With the coming into operation of the Health Act, 1953, local health authorities became liable for the provision of medical, institutional, and specialist services for soldiers' dependants to the same extent as they are liable for the provision of such services for other members of the community in the corresponding categories as to social insurance and income. In that connection I should mention that NCOs and Men are insured under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, as amended. Where the dependent receives the treatment in a public ward of a local authority hospital, or in a public ward of a hospital approved by the local health authority for the treatment of their patients, my Department defrays the charges made by the health authority. My Department also defrays the charges for specialist services provided by a health authority under Section 15 (4) of the Health Act, as amended.
This brief statement does not cover every aspect of the matter but if the Deputy has a specific case or a particular type of case in mind and will furnish details I will have it examined.
Is the Minister aware that an NCO whose wife has to have drugs costing up to £3 a week has been refused a medical card by the health authority and has to pay these expenses out of his own pocket?
I am not responsible for the issue of medical cards, but if the Deputy gives me particulars, I will have that case examined.