asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the relevant regulations so that temporary medical cards can be issued in cases of hardship.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards.
11.
In cases of hardship, where medical care is urgently required, an authorised officer of the health board, normally an assistance officer, can determine eligibility and the person concerned is authorised by him to receive treatment in advance of the issue of the medical card. Doctors and chemists operating the scheme can then provide services for persons so authorised, making their claims in accordance with a special procedure. I do not consider that there is a need for a change in the existing arrangements in this regard.
Does qualification depend on income?
Yes. The home assistance officer decides on the spot whether or not, in his opinion, an applicant in a case such as that described by Deputy Nolan would be entitled to a temporary medical card.
Qualification depends on income. I know farmers with valuations over £60 who sought medical cards and were refused.
This is a matter to be determined by the CEO but in the case to which Deputy Nolan refers it is the assistance officer who decides.
That is in the case of a temporary medical card.
Yes.
Suppose the home assistance officer refuses, is there any appeal?
The appeal would be an ordinary application to the health boards. That is the only appeal an applicant would have. If it were a matter of urgency I am sure the officer to whom I have referred would be as sympathetic as possible.
If he is refused is there any appeal?
I have already allowed a great many supplementary questions.
May I ask the Minister would he consider issuing a set of guidelines to health boards so that the public may be informed as to their eligibility for medical cards?
As a member of a health board, may I say these guidelines have been given to us over the last three months. They have been issued to every health board.
That is true and if there is any Deputy who has not got a copy of the guidelines I am prepared to make them available. When I was a Deputy in Opposition I got these and there was no problem.