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REPORTS THAT THE government is to drop the GP card for people with long-term illness has been heavily criticised by a number of groups.
It was reported in the Irish Times today that there are plans for the free GP card for such people to be dropped, despite the fact the Government had committed to making the card available.
Speaking to News at One on RTÉ today, Junior Minister Alex White said that the plan for free GP care for all will be seen within the lifetime of this government.
He said that legislation for the free card for people with long-term illnesses has become bogged down. He has proposed that the government look at the entirety of the plan and how they phase and cost it.
White described it as good public policy to say ‘are we doing it in the right way’. He added there is no change in the government planning to provide free GP care for all within the lifetime of this government.
According to White, if they continue with the plan as it is, they risk risk further delay. He is due to make a proposal to Health Minister James Reilly before the end of the summer.
White said that it is true that delays are frustrating, and that they are frustrating for people in government as well.
“We’ll do this, but we may have to do it in a slightly different way,” said White, adding that clarity is what people want to see.
Disappointing
However, Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said that it is a “hugely disappointing development” and something that will create great difficulties and concerns for other sectors.
Ó Caoláin described the health policy of the government as “now in tatters”.
This was supposed to be the first phase of the extension of free GP care to all within the lifetime of the government as they promised in their Programme for Government. It was to have been introduced in March 2012 but we now find that it has been abandoned.
Deputy Ó Caoláin said it is time “for a major rethink on health policy by this government with the emphasis on supporting and enhancing the public health system, funded from fair taxation, and ensuring equal access for all based on medical need alone”.
“Mishandling”
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has strongly criticised the Government for what it described as “the mishandling of its efforts” to extend GP cards to patients with long-term illnesses.
Dr Ray Walley, chairman of the GP Committee of the IMO, said that the Government had wasted two years trying to achieve an impossible objective while ignoring a growing crisis in chronic patient care and GP services.
Dr Walley said that the IMO had warned the Government that there would be huge problems trying to extend free GP card coverage on the basis of health rather than income.
He added that the failure would raise serious questions about the Government’s strategy for free GP care for all during the lifetime of this Government, adding: “The Minister should refocus his efforts on tackling the resource crisis in GP surgeries now so that patients could start seeing a meaningful improvement in their treatments.”
“In tatters”
Fianna Fáil Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher TD described the news as a “reminder of the abject failure of James Reilly’s leadership”.
The two key pillars of the Government’s plan for the health service are Universal Health Insurance and Free GP Care for All. Over the course of the last few weeks, it has become clear that both policies are collapsing.
He also questioned if Minister Reilly “is the wrong person to be in charge of one of the country’s most important departments?”.
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Did anyone actually expect this to be delivered? Similarly, Reilly promised to get rid of the 50c fee for med card prescriptions. He did, and then brought in a €1.50 charge.
It should be compulsory for all serving ministers to use the public health system, Hey Presto, a fantastic system for all.
I have had a long term illness for years, I pay €145 per month for my medication I would certainly not complain if I only had to pay €1.50 per prescription!
Thing is you shouldn’t have to pay anything.
how quickly they could do the household charge and the property tax !
One more nail in this governments coffin
Another election promise broken by the Fine Gael / Labour despots.
Another broken promise, conveniently slipped into the news on the day the media are focussing on Fergusons retirement.
Bravo special advisors….. (cue slow clap)
Alex White, who’s just in the door after Roisin Shorthall’s resignation, has been sent out with a brief to “research other options”.
Clearly another Jnr Minister is being set up to take a fall for Reilly…!
Wait and see we are going to have two more austerity budgets then before the next election we will get a giveaway budget even the dogs on the street know this
Trick is Chris is not to be ‘ bought’ by a giveaway budget. McCreevy did it with the SSIA’s years back and we’re still reaping FF’s bitter harvest.
If you heard Alex White on the news at one today it would make you cringe..not only have they now broken pre-election promises they are now tearing up their program for government
It’s still on the way, it’s just “bogged down”.
A highly paid adult told him that was the best thing to say.
You know sometimes you think you can’t really become any more disillusioned, and then, bam!
Is the advisor twelve?
This is becoming farcical. The Government spin everything to suggest it’s not there fault that they can’t deliver on there election promises. Enda Kenny proclaimed that “paddy likes to know”. All his government has done is spin/lie and take more from the ordinary tax payer.
At some point the govt’ must have the courage to realise this austerity plan has failed and show the leadership they promised.
How about dropping some of the freebies and overly generous entitlements that our political classes get instead of picking on vulnerable people
Enough to make you “sick”!
Surprise surprise Another coalition election promise broken…..clowns
I used to think finnia fail were bad. Now, I don’t know. At least ff didn’t lie so blatantly to my face during the last election,
Don’t worry Adrian, they’ll more than make up for it next election campaign
Did you ever in all Your life here such shite, it has become bogged down in legislation, no bother changing things like house property or water rates.
Of course o reily is wrong even my dog knows me this .
And another one (promise) bites the dust
Our overlords in Germany probably veteod the plan
Keep paying those bond holders!!!
Like our good frind Bill gates – got €27 from anglo bail out – now there is a guy who deserves it – much more so than long term Irish sick .
i wonder did his application get bogges down ??.
You mean Bill Gates got repaid E27 million he had in Anglo Irish Bank Unsecured Bonds.
Such Bonds were “unsecured” that means they were NOT guaranteed until Fianna Fáil agreed to give the banks Government funds to guarantee the “unsecured” Bondholders.
Fine Gael in Government accepted the deal negotiated by Fianna Fáil!
Sad reflection on Fine Gael!
Bill Gates came to Ireland recently and met An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
I am sure Bill Gates wanted to thank Enda and Brian Cowen for rescuing him and repaying him E27 Million he had in bonds!
Enda and Brian Cowen- Bill thanks you both! Maybe he will invest the E27 million in Ireland and create new jobs!
Did Enda discuss and agree any deal with Bill?
The Irish taxpayers are now burdened with Bill debt of E27 million and much more.
What relief did Enda give Irish taxpayers- people who have pressure in repaying their mortgages?
None!,
Pay up or declare bankruptcy! Thanks Enda. You are all heart!
The developers and builders were rescued by Fianna Fail through Nama. Some of these developers and builders are on salaries of up to E180,000 PA while home owners under pressure!
Why?
Time for reality!
This Government can’t last!o
Does one of the wealthiest men in the world need to be rescued by Irish Taxpayers,
Many of the Irish Taxpayers have relatively small incomes and with the additional taxes imposed by the Government have great difficulty meeting their own mortgage payments.
Sad reflection on Government Policy!
Cut the benefit and then scramble round looking for an alternative – or pretend to be looking. Well done the Dept of Health (or should that be the Dept of Illhealth these days?!)
Knew it would never happen. Anyone making a list of broken promises by any chance?
They promised those on Long Term Illness books that they would get GP services cards two budgets ago, they are still waiting on them. So how can they take away something they never gave. Reilly and Co are muppets.
Bloody Obamacare
Why would we expect anything else from an anti life party…..
People with long term illnesses such as cancer need to have medical cards as promised by Fine Gael before election.
It’s a very poor reflection on Fine Gael who appear to be losing creditability!
While this is of course true, sadly when people think of long term or serious illness its usually cancer that comes to mind, it isn’t the only illness that can kill or cause terrible suffering to a person in this country.
We have one of the highest rates of respiratory illness in Europe in Ireland, this causes enormous suffering for the sufferer and as the disease progresses will often cause hardship as the cost of medication increases. Try telling any parent with an asthmatic child, gasping for every breath, austerity is the way to go for the good of the country, you’ll be able to afford those inhalers in a few years. Maybe. The sufferer may need a carer if no family member can help and require lengthy stays in hospital.
Mary Harney before him was also the wrong person and everybody else before her was the wrong person,in other words, its the system that needs changing ,and a politician is the wrong person to put in charge of a defunct organisation that was allowed free rein and operate to the union agenda for the benifit of their members,the monster needs not just a new head but a new heart.
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