asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that on occasions and in one particular instance (details supplied) the North Eastern Health Board has withdrawn a medical card without one of its officers interviewing the holder of the card; if he will take steps to ensure that this does not recur; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Card Withdrawal.
27.
The granting or refusal of a medical card is a statutory function of the chief executive officer of a health board.
In deciding to grant, refuse or withdraw a medical card, I would expect that the chief executive officer would be fully satisfied with the reliability and comprehensiveness of the information available to him and would have established adequate procedures to ensure this. This need not, however, require that every person whose eligibility is being reviewed must be interviewed by an officer of the health board.
Is the Minister aware that in this case the person concerned was a small farmer with a valuation of £19? He was allocated a card three years ago when he got married. He has now three children but the medical card was withdrawn without prior notice.
I have before me details of the case to which the Deputy refers. I have information which I do not think should be made public in this House. In this case, without saying whether the man would be eligible for a medical card, I may tell the Deputy I am not too happy regarding the method of review of the man's means. I am not saying he would or would not qualify.
Has the man been granted a medical card?
Not that I am aware of.
Would the Minister consider asking health boards to publicise their sets of guidelines in order to give the public an indication whether they are entitled to medical cards as of right? Further, would the Minister ask the health boards to consider setting up a committee which would include a medical officer——
The Deputy is broadening the scope of the question.
It would eliminate many of the contentious problems about medical cards if sets of guidelines were published in the national and provincial papers. The committee I have referred to should include not only a chief executive officer but also a social worker and a medical officer who would have knowledge of particular cases.
As a member of a mental hospital committee in 1950 and as a member of a health authority from 1950 until recently——
I trust we are not going to have a statement from the Deputy.
I am making a specific statement——
The Deputy may not make a statement.
All health boards have accepted the guidelines as laid down——
I will allow a last supplementary question from Deputy Wyse.
Would the Minister be prepared at this stage to review the scale of entitlement to medical cards?
As I told the House some time ago, that will be done in a few months. So far as guidelines are concerned, they are available to anyone who wants them, particularly public representatives. I presume the health boards are entitled to advertise the guidelines within the limit of their financial resources. In the case raised by Deputy Crinion, without making any commitment, I suggest that the person concerned should make an appeal to the CEO.