Brian Lenihan
Ceist:92 Mr. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to provide assistance for parents of premature babies and medical cards for babies in this situation (details supplied). [5502/97]
Written Answers. - Infant Care Services.
Limerick-East): A maternity and infant care service is provided free of charge to all women. Also, a wide range of additional hospital and community care services are available to premature babies, including access to high technology for resuscitation and maintaining ventilation, intensive high care cots and more frequent visits by public health nurses as the need arises.
Under the Health Act, 1970, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the Chief Executive Officer of the appropriate health board, are unable, without undue hardship, to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants. It is open to all persons to apply to the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board for health services if they are unable to provide these services for themselves or their dependants without hardship. I am satisfied that the health boards give sympathetic consideration to such applications when the circumstances warrant it. In these circumstances I am satisfied that the arrangements in place ensure that all premature babies are provided with appropriate health care.