Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has called for the immediate redeployment of civil servants to speed up the processing of medical card applications. Deputy Calleary has described the protracted delays as a disgrace, as thousands of seriously ill are left unable to pay their medical expenses as they wait for their cards to be renewed.

“I have been inundated with calls from people from across Co Mayo who are extremely worried about the ongoing delays in issuing and renewing medical cards,” said Deputy Calleary.

“I spoke to one gentleman who has suffered a leg amputation and has diabetes. His application for a medical card was submitted in August. He and his family, along my office, have sent more than 20 letters and emails to the Client Registration Office to ask what stage his application is at. On at least 5 occasions, his family have provided the additional information requested by the office to track the application. Despite all of this, there is no sign of his medical card and he has no idea how long he will have to wait.

“The family of another man who is waiting to have his medical card renewed have also contacted me. He has had a stroke and needs constant medical care. The application to renew his card was first submitted in September. Despite over 15 emails and letters to the office, he cannot get any information on when his application will be processed and a card issued.

“The fact that these people don’t know when or if their medical cards will be renewed is totally unacceptable. In the meantime, those with chronic illnesses are left unable to pay their medical bills after the HSE essentially pulled the rug from under them.

“There is a real fear now among health professionals and the public that this is part of an underhand exercise to cut costs.  There are growing concern that the delays are simply a money saving exercise and that the processing of applications is being deliberately dragged out.  

“This is a serious problem and it’s getting very little attention from the Government. Last year with great fanfare, the Minister for Health James Reilly announced that he was ‘taking control’ of the health service.  Where is his control on this issue? The maximum wait for a medical card application to be processed should be 15 days. At the moment it’s looking more like 15 weeks. This has already reached crisis point for thousands of patients around the country, many of whom are seriously ill and need regular medical attention.

“If there is a shortage of staff to process medical card applications, then under the Cork Park Agreement, staff should be redeployed to speed up the process. I am appealing to the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton and Minister for Health James Reilly to intervene before the crisis escalates further.”