IN THE week that the Government backtracked on its decision to review all discretionary medical cards, parents and volunteers with juvenile arthritis charity iCAN criticised the decision to implement the reviews in the first place.
iCAN chairperson Wendy Costello and volunteer Marie Kennedy gave their views at a rest stop in Claughaun GAA Club for a 375km charity cycle in aid of the charity.
Ms Costello, whose daughter Niamh suffers from juvenile arthritis, spoke of her frustration at the amount of paperwork she had to complete when Niamh’s medical card was selected for review.
“My daughter’s card wasn’t up until December 2016 and we were picked for a review in February of this year. You can imagine it’s quite stressful because I thought she had the card until 2016.
“It wasn’t just a quick review; we had to fill out all of the forms as if we were re-applying again. We had to get all our consultants’ letters, our GP letters, physio, so it was hugely stressful and we had to keep ringing and ringing to see what was happening with our status and how it was progressing.
“Nine times out of ten they wanted more information. They wanted a copy of my house insurance so I sent that in.”
Ms Kennedy, a volunteer with iCAN, described the reviews of discretionary medical cards as “ridiculous”. Her son Jamie, who turned three in April, was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis 20 months ago and can only move his eyes.
“When Jamie was diagnosed he was granted a discretionary medical card dated until December 2015, but in March they took it off him and said it needed to be reviewed. It’s still in for review at the moment and I’ve been ringing them every week.
“I’ve been told every week since March that we’re going to hear in 10 to 14 days and we still are none the wiser as to whether he’s going to keep it or whether it’s going to be taken”, she explained.
“Without his medications, he cannot walk. He cannot turn his head. He cannot lift his arms. He cannot move. Without the medical card, we can’t get those medications.
“He had to get orthotics for his feet to wear inside his shoes. They’re €360 each and he will need them twice a year as his feet grow. Without a medical card, we cannot get them for him, so therefore he cannot walk. It’s ridiculous.”
