26 Jan 2012, 18:16
The HSE has agreed to review the operation of its centralised medical card function following criticism as today’s meeting of the Public Accounts Committee.
At the suggestion of John Mc Guinness TD, Chairman of the Committee, the HSE agreed to assign a member of its senior management team to review the operation of the centralised office in Finglas in order to address the current defects in the service.
The decision of the HSE to centralise the processing of medical cards came in for sharp criticism at the PAC meeting. Members highlighted the chaotic nature of the current process where applications are getting lost and where vulnerable and sick people have had to re-apply twice for the medical card.
Deputy Simon Harris outlined that he now advised all constituents to keep copies of all forms and papers submitted to the HSE centralised office in Finglas. Deputy Mary Lou Mc Donald outlined the feedback she had received from very committed staff who pointed out that there were major communication problems in the office with some staff having to wait 3 to 4 days for answers from other staff in the same building as email rather than telephones was used to get information.
The HSE outlined that the 150 staff in the centralised office in Finglas were brought together from various sections and had required training and there was also delays in getting staff into that area. While the benchmark was that applications would be turned around in three weeks, this point was disputed by Members of the Committee.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brenan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee of Public Accounts
Membership
John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Paschal Donohoe,
Anne Ferris,
Simon Harris,
Michael McCarthy,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross