asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the total number of medical cards which have been cancelled within each health board area for the years 1983 and 1984; the reasons for these cancellations and if he will make a statement on this matter.
Written Answers. - Medical Cards.
407.
The table below shows the numbers of medical cards issued and withdrawn in each health board area in 1983 and 1984.
|
1983 |
1984 |
|||||
|
Board |
Issued |
Withdrawn |
Net Change |
Issued |
Withdrawn |
Net Change |
|
Eastern |
41,106 |
33,683 |
+7,423 |
34,924 |
49,609 |
-14,685 |
|
Midland |
6,458 |
5,307 |
+1,151 |
4,768 |
11,572 |
-6,804 |
|
Mid-Western |
4,179 |
4,503 |
-324 |
4,022 |
7,858 |
-3,836 |
|
North-Eastern |
9,683 |
8,634 |
+1,049 |
8,543 |
11,731 |
-3,188 |
|
North-Western |
5,926 |
4,966 |
+ 960 |
4,249 |
11,515 |
-7,266 |
|
South-Eastern |
15,529 |
14,017 |
+1,512 |
12,621 |
16,850 |
-4,229 |
|
Southern |
Not available |
15,141 |
Not available |
Not available |
31,907 |
Not available |
|
Western |
12,210 |
4,386 |
+7,824 |
9,335 |
25,846 |
-16,511 |
The issue and withdrawl of medical cards is a matter for the chief executive officer of each health board. The basic criterion for issue of a medical card is that the applicant be unable to arrange general practitioner services for himself and his dependants without undue hardship. Income guidelines are issued annually for the purposes of guidance in the determination of eligibility for medical cards. I would however stress that the issue of a medical card in any particular case is at the discretion of the relevant CEO.
Similarly, medical cards are withdrawn when it becomes evident that the holder no longer satisfies the criterion for possession of a medical card. The figures indicated in the above table take account of changes in the manner of assessing the eligibility of persons aged 16-25, bringing the manner of assessment into line with that applied to the rest of the population.
The national position regarding the number of valid medical cards and the number of persons covered (including dependents) on 30 November 1984 (the latest date for which figures are available) and 31 December 1982 is indicated below.
|
Date |
Number of medical cards in use |
Number of persons covered (including dependents) |
|
31 December 1982 |
756,210 |
1,280,758 |
|
30 November 1984 |
713,963 |
1,300,109 |