asked the Minister for Health the reason no allowance is made for the number of children in a family when considering eligibility for hospital service cards; when he will be in a position to do so; if he accepts that a married couple with five children are not in the same position financially as a couple with no family if they both have the same income; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Hospital Service Cards.
705.
The persons who are entitled to hospital services cards are those whose incomes in the year ended 5 April, 1983 were less than £11,000. These cards refer principally to entitlement to free hospital consultant services.
The criterion of eligibility for a hospital services card is income. Acceptable evidence of income can be made available in documentation which is routinely provided for income tax purposes. It was not practicable, when these eligibility arrangements were being introduced, to include other criteria of eligibility, such as the number of dependant children in a family, because of the major administrative burden which would be imposed on the staffs of health boards and hospitals in establishing the accuracy of this information. However, it has been provided that a hospital services card may be issued to a person with income over the limit if it is established that the required services cannot be provided without undue hardship. The number of dependants is taken into account in deciding whether hardship might arise.
I should point out that the hospital services card relates mainly to eligibility for free hospital consultant services. All persons, whether they are eligible for hospital services cards or not, are entitled to hospital services in public wards without charge by the hospital. Persons who may be liable for consultant charges can, and in most cases do, provide for payment of these charges through membership of the Voluntary Health Insurance Board. I accept that a married couple with five children may not be in the same position financially as a couple with no family if they both have the same income. I am having the entire subject of hospital eligibility arrangements reviewed. The matters which are raised in this question will be included in this review.