Vol. 574 No. 5
193 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on a situation whereby a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who applied for home chiropody services has been informed that they will have to pay partial fees for that service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27744/03]
Health boards are not legally obliged to provide chiropody services to medical card holders. Arrangements for the provision of services, including chiropody, are a matter for the boards, having regard to their priorities within the funding provided. Chiropody services provided by health boards vary somewhat through the country. In general priority is given to medical card holders who are aged 65 years and over and certain other categories of persons with illnesses, including diabetes and arthritis, who have been referred by their general practitioner or community nurse as being in need of the service.
My Department is aware of difficulties being experienced by some eligible persons who are being levied a surcharge by some chiropodists-podiatrists for services that were previously provided free of charge. Officials from my Department have written to the chief executive officer group on the matter. The action taken by the chiropodists-podiatrists is totally at variance with the spirit and custom of the health board chiropody scheme and the charges being levied are inappropriate.
The case highlighted by the Deputy has been referred to the regional chief executive officer of the ERHA for investigation. He has been asked to ensure that no inappropriate fee is levied on the patient involved and to reply directly to the Deputy.
