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Tony O'Brien Committee Room via Oireachtas

Government accused of targeting people with Down Syndrome in medical card removal

The issues were discussed at a Health Committee this morning.

THE GOVERNMENT WAS accused of taking medical cards from families with specific illnesses.

However, Minister of State Alex White said that the system doesn’t retain information on illnesses so that it’s not even a possibility.

Speaking about the medical card system he said, “We don’t’ have a medical condition based scheme, we have a means based scheme.”

However he did say that medical conditions can come into play for discretionary medical cards.

He said, “The medical condition comes into consideration if it has an effect on the means and the financial situation of a family.”

Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer said “it is a fact that many families are having great difficulty”.

He continued:

Families of Down Syndrome children say there is a blatant attempt not to give medical cards to them.

However, Director General of the HSE Tony O’Brien said “the illness itself is not a qualifying criteria” and that there is no targeting of any specific group.

There is no targeting based on medical condition or otherwise. I can categorically say it isn’t happening.

Ambulances

The ambulance service also came back into the limelight during the morning hearing.

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that the “ambulance service is not safe, not responsive and not fit for purpose”.

He said that was a widespread view and described a personal experience where an ambulance drove 40 miles to come to his home when there was an ambulance just a quarter of a mile away.

Let’s be very clear . They are under resourced, it is detrimental  in terms of injury and loss of life.

He said that he believes we need a national ambulance authority outside of the HSE.

Staff

Alex White again called on the IMO to speak with him about the new contract for GPs.

The government were accused of gagging GPs under the new contract. However White said that there was no question of gagging orders being put on general practitioners.

He said,

In the course of the engagement that we have to have. I think we will be persuaded that it should be reworded but we can’t negotiate with ourselves.

He said the so-called gagging clause was not their intention. He added that it’s a draft contract and that we need to discuss it.

When we put out a draft contract, that’s our proposal. It was not the last word, it’s our initial offering.

The government was also accused of training nurses for export when Ireland needs them for its services.

Senator John Crown claimed “the mediocre quality delivered to patients needs to be addressed”.

Alex White countered, “I don’t get a sense from the people that they’re not happy with the service.”

Read: Whistleblowers ‘gagged’ under new GP contract, claims IMO>

Read: White: I invited the IMO to talk about GP concerns – that hasn’t happened>

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13 Comments
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    Mute Gary
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 1:52 PM

    “Down Syndrome people”???? It’s people with Down Syndrome. You don’t say “Cancer people” or do you? Down was the name of the man who carried out the first clinical tests on people with Down Syndrome. The same respect goes for people with Autism etc. Don’t brand the person by their condition. I’m not being pedantic, I’m just using the correct terminology out of respect.

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    Mute Gary
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 1:54 PM

    Cliodhna, that of course wasn’t aimed at you.

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    Mute March Hare
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 2:22 PM

    Well said, lazy labelling is very annoying in the media. It’s something you have, not something you are.

    A Down Syndrome “sufferer” is another common one you often see, my son doesn’t ‘suffer’ with Down Syndrome, he just ‘has’ it. He also ‘has’ brown hair, a Dublin accent and pretty smelly feet for a 5 year old.

    So to Journal headline writers, please look at changing this one.

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    Mute March Hare
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 7:51 PM

    Thank you for updating the headline

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    Mute CMac59
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 1:35 PM

    This government is targeting everyone. It’s rationale for cutting so many cards held by the sick and disadvantaged was that the under-6 medical card scheme needed to be funded from the existing budget,.

    This is unfair. Alex White insults our intellects if he thinks the harsh cutbacks are done at random without rhyme or reason. The targeting of costly cardholders has been premeditated by the government and that is a utter disgrace.

    As yet not one under-6 medical has been issued. Government is reducing medical cards. This was what Howlin and Kenny said they would do when their men were sent into Health. Well, that is ONE promise Kenny has kept. Pity he forgot about all his other promises and the platform he was elected on. He is a scheming devious individual. Still, one does not become a party leader by being Mr Nice Guy.

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    Mute Niamh Curry
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 1:57 PM

    Why not have a scheme that is based on medical need as opposed to means! I used to have a medical card due to unemployment but am healthy as a trout thank god and rarely if ever used it and my circumstances have improved. Give it to those who truly need it.

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    Mute Ava Emc
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    May 4th 2014, 6:26 PM

    As far as I know it was means tested. If anything happened to you which it didn’t, the bills would be a lot. Medical expenses are expensive if you do not have the money to pay or in unemployment or living below the poverty line. I think they are means tested. Like if a parent works as a lawyer/engineering/business areas/finance, then they don’t get it. Makes sense. I think it is means tested. In some articles coming forward they do not state the parents salaries.

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    Mute Maggie may
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 4:46 PM

    My daughter has a serious life threatening illness yet her medical card has been removed she cannot afford the medication required to treat her. It is a disgrace

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    Mute Ava Emc
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    May 4th 2014, 6:23 PM

    Maggie, am sorry for your loss. What is happening here though? Are they looking at her father’s salary or husband’s salary? You do not state how old your child is. I think they are doing means tested now. Not sure.

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    Mute cosmological
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 1:45 PM

    Many families have experience of these children who, in my opinion, should be considered a major priority.

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    Mute Pamela Condon
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 1:49 PM

    Which politician stated a couple of months ago, that there was no such thing as ‘discretionary’ medical cards?

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    Mute Tracey Nally
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 3:03 PM

    What planet is Alex white on. He doesn’t get a feel that people are not happy with the service. Then get out man and talk to the people on the street that have to use the A&E’s. That are full of junkies getting preferential treatment to keep them from erupting. Ask the staff that have to deal with this. Facing into these as a day of work. The man is a fool! !!!!

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    Mute Silent Majority
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    Apr 3rd 2014, 1:26 PM

    Mooching war widows!

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