Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 February 2014
712. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health in view of general practitioners having full electronic visibility of the medical card panel of patients available to them and having the facility to allow temporary extension of eligibility for expiring cards where a sensitive renewal is appropriate, if he will outline what constitutes a sensitive renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5483/14]
View answerGPs have full electronic visibility of the medical card panel of patients available to them. They can identify clients that may not be expected to complete the standard renewal process, which requires a reasonable level of administrative competence, or clients without recourse to friends/family to assist with the standard renewal. GPs have the facility to electronically allow temporary extension of eligibility for expiring cards, where this sensitive renewal is appropriate.
