Vol. 383 No. 3
asked the Minister for Health if he will request the Wicklow section of the Eastern Health Board to issue chiropody cards to persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow who did not receive any application forms for the cards in 1988 and who were therefore unaware of procedures to be followed, leading to confusion and hardship for these people who are entitled to these cards.
134.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some sections of the Eastern Health Board require a completely new application procedure to be gone through for each chiropody card every year, involving a massive outlay on administration and expense which can be ill afforded at this time of spending restrictions in health; and if he will institute more national and economic procedures both for the patient and the taxpayer.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.
In the case of the first three persons mentioned, the Eastern Health Board have no record of applications for chiropody cards. The board have now issued chiropody application forms to these individuals. These will be dealt with immediately by the board on receipt of the completed application forms. A chiropody card was issued to the last named person in June 1988. As the person does not appear to have received this card a duplicate has now been issued.
In each community care area of the Eastern Health Board the expired chiropody card must be returned before a new card is issued, as evidence that the applicant continues to require treatment and also for accounting purposes. In some areas a completed application form is also required on an annual basis. However, the board are satisfied that the existing procedures for the issue of chiropody cards are both efficient and cost effective.
