Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
592. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if a medical card holder can apply for a chiropody treatment card; if not, if this is only available to medical card holders in certain areas; the way the scheme works; if it will be rolled out to those living in counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3150/22]
View answerChiropodists/podiatrists assess, diagnose and treat conditions and abnormalities of the foot and lower limb. Podiatry services can significantly improve a person's quality of life by alleviating painful symptoms and maintaining mobility.
The availability of chiropody services provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) varies across the country. Where chiropody services are provided by the HSE the following groups usually get priority:
- Medical card holders who are aged 65 and over
- People who have Health Amendment Act Cards
- People who have illnesses such as diabetes or arthritis
- People with disabilities
People can make enquiries with their GP, Public Health Nurse, or Local Health Office for information about which chiropody services are available in their area.
In County Dublin and County Wicklow primarily, there has been a long-standing chiropody treatment card scheme, where qualified podiatrists can apply to be on a register as a HSE approved chiropodist/podiatrist. Once approved, patients can request to attend the private podiatrist clinic or request a domiciliary visit from a private podiatrist. Medical Card holders over the age of 65 years or people with Diabetes who hold a medical card (or in some cases, a long term illness card), are entitled to apply for a chiropody treatment card. Each person under this scheme can avail of 3-6 treatments per year. The HSE pays the private podiatrist €33.41 for a domiciliary visit and €22.88 for clinical visit. The patients then top up the payment themselves and the fee is determined by the podiatrist.
The HSE has been working on developing a national standardised podiatry service across the country. This is being developed with the recruitment of podiatrist positions in the community health networks as well as specialist podiatrists to provide care to persons diagnosed with diabetes. The HSE are also developing appropriate governance structures throughout the country within the podiatry service, to meet the needs of the population.
