I wish to share some of my time with Deputy Mary O'Rourke who also has an interest in this matter.
Adjournment Debate. - Post Polio Syndrome Sufferers.
That is satisfactory and agreed.
I thank you and the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me the valuable time of the House to speak on behalf of the Post Polio Support Group. I am pleased they are represented in the gallery by their chairman, Mr. Jim Costello. I pay a special tribute to Mr. Costello and Ms Joan Bradley, members of the executive of their group, and Dr. Séamus O'Dea and Dr. Orla Hardiman, their medical advisers from Beaumont and Cherry Orchard hotpitals. They represent people who suffer from the post polio syndrome — PPS or late effects of polio. This group has been almost forgotten by the health sector and by the administration of the health services.
In the 1940s and 1950s, polio was a notifiable disease and had to be reported to the Department of Health. Unfortunately, for those who recovered and took their place in life, their position changed dramatically in that they were not recognised by any particular administration and have been left to fend for themselves.
Polio is no longer with us except in very exceptional cases but the consequences are with us in a new internationally recognised and confirmed condition known as post polio syndrome. This syndrome affects some 4,500 people there, some of whom are in my constituency. Many are in constituencies of various Members who have raised this matter with the Minister by means of direct representations and parliamentary questions. I am pleased the Minister of State, Deputy O'Shea, who has special responsibility for people with handicaps, is present. In my representations and in representations by Deputy Mary O'Rourke, Deputy Róisín Shortall, the Minister of State, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald, Deputy Penrose and many others we have all used our influence with the Minister. The Minister and his Department have offered facilities. These have been outlined for us in respect of eligibility for medical cards, the drug cost subsidisation scheme, the drug refunds scheme, disabled person's maintenance allowance, mobility allowance and other medical services.
I would remind the Minister of State that all these schemes are available to everyone else simply because they are means tested. For this special group who suffer from the condition known as post polio syndrome we need to do better than just tell them of all the facilities that are available. We need from the Department an evaluation of their needs which they have quantified. We are subject to the Minister's critical analysis and independent review of these needs.
We want post polio syndrome sufferers to be considered eligible for the long-term illness scheme. Many sufferers consider this a life long illness. We ask the Minister to consider setting up a trust in which the Department of Health would be involved. As a minimum we request the Minister of State, as a matter of urgency, to meet with an all-party delegation from this House and representatives of the post polio syndrome group, who are not vociferous but whose needs cannot be denied. We need a meeting with the Minister of State in order to put down on paper their needs and requirements, otherwise we will condemn them to a life of nonparticipation in the workplace because means testing will eliminate them. Since the 1940s and 1950s these people have participated to the best of their ability in the workplace where it has been physically possible for them to do so.
I appreciate the generosity with which Deputy Michael Ferris has addressed the issue and included me in the Adjournment debate, albeit briefly. I tabled some written questions on the matter and I share the views of people affected by post polio syndrome or late effects of polio. During the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s polio was an affliction from which many people suffered. Sadly, the struggle came to an end for some while many others who came to grips with life had to overcome huge disabilities in terms of health and non-recognition of what they were doing to fight the disease. They also had to fight for recognition in their environment whether in their family, at school, work or in society. In many cases they fought heroic battles and overcame by physical resurgence and sheer mental ability the difficulty in which they found themselves. This drama is repeating itself in diminished form in fatigue, fatigue of the muscles, fatigue of the body, lack of concentration — all of which are recognised as post polio syndrome. I ask the Minister to set up a trust fund so that the needs of these people can be met. I would gladly join an all-party deputation.
I thank Deputy Michael Ferris and Deputy O'Rourke for their contributions on this important topic.
The long-term illness scheme entitles persons who suffer from certain specified illnesses to free drugs and medicines which are prescribed in respect of the particular illness. The list of specified illnesses covered by this scheme has not been extended since 1979. However, the needs of people with significant or ongoing medical expenses are now being met by a range of other schemes which provide assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines.
Where an individual or a family is subjected to a significant level of ongoing expenditure on medical expenses — general practitioner fees, prescribed drugs etc. — due to a long-term medical condition such as post polio syndrome or late effects of polio, these expenses may be reckoned in determining eligibility for a medical card. In some cases a medical card may issue to a family member on a personal basis. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the health board to decide.
The drug cost subsidisation scheme caters for persons who do not have a medical card or a long-term illness book, and who are certified by their medical practitioner as having a long-term medical condition, with a regular and ongoing requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines. Persons who qualify for inclusion in this scheme will not have to pay more than £32 in any month in respect of prescribed medication.
Under the drugs refund scheme, which covers expenditure by the whole family, any expenditure on prescribed medication above £90 in a calendar quarter is refunded by the health board.
I am satisfied that appropriate and comprehensive support is being provided by the State through the existing range of drug schemes to those with medical expenses arising from conditions such as post polio syndrome. Accordingly, there are no plans to extend the range of illnesses currently covered by the long-term illness scheme. However, on foot of the case advanced by the Deputies, I will meet a delegation from the post-polio syndrome group.