Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
707. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the reason elderly persons in County Wexford who do not have a full medical card are refused access to public health nurse services; if this decision can be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25915/23]
View answerEligibility for all health services including nursing services is outlined in The Health Act 1970. The Act provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical card holders) and limited eligibility (all others).
In relation to eligibility for the Public Health Nursing (PHN) service, the Act provides for free care at the point of delivery for home nursing services to persons who have full eligibility (i.e. medical card holders). Non-Medical Card holders do not have automatic entitlement to access all services provided by PHNs. In certain circumstances consideration may be given to referrals received in relation to non-Medical Card patients dependent upon both clinical need and the availability of resources.As this question includes elements of service provision in relation to the current service delivery in County Wexford, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE), to provide a response to the Deputy as soon as possible.
