by Alan Jacques
MORE than 1600 medical cards were cut in Limerick in the last 12 months.
Figured released to Fianna Fail TD, Willie O’Dea, show that medical cards in Limerick have been slashed by 1,614 from 77,555 in November 2014 to 75,941 last November.
“These are appalling cuts and have had a major impact on people’s lives in all parts of Limerick,” said Deputy O’Dea.
“I have consistently pointed out that the Government was engaged in a deliberate and disgraceful attack on people with medical cards, which it denied for a long time before being shamed into admitting this was a deliberate policy.
Two years ago, in November 2013, there were more than 80,800 medical cards in Limerick and now that figure is down to 75,941.
“The increase in the number of discretionary cards granted over the past 12 months in Limerick is further proof of the flawed policy which was adopted by former Health Minister James Reilly as part of a cost cutting plan. Between March 2011 and March 2014 the Government cut more than 30,000 medical cards nationally, removing them from people with life limiting and debilitating conditions.
“The removal of almost 5,000 medical cards in the past two years will heap the pressure on thousands of Limerick families who are now facing increased medical bills. They are now forced to pay for GP visits, prescription medicines and hospital stays – costs which would have previously been covered by their medical card,” he concluded.
In response, the HSE stated, “We have reviewed the figures as outlined in the response to PQ 41523/15 and they are correct.
Whilst there has been a decrease in the numbers of people with Medical Card eligibility between November 2014 and November 2015 it should be noted that there was an overall increase in the numbers of persons with Medical Care eligibility granted on the basis of discretion of 991 in the Limerick area during that period.
The area has also seen a significant increase in the numbers of Over 70s now availing of free GP visits. Overall this grew by 1,841 in the period under review.
There was also a significant number of children under six registered in the Limerick area for the free GP Visit scheme. Some 9,283 children have so far been registered for this scheme since it started in July.”
