HSE accused of stalling on medical cards for over-70s

THE HSE has been criticised for lengthy delays issuing medical cards to the over-70s.

GPs say some patients who “without question” meet new criteria for the card are being forced to wait up to three months for their applications to be processed.

The delays are causing undue stress and hardship, and because the cards are not retrospective, it is costing patients money, the GPs said. The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dara Murphy (FG), raised the issue after contact from at least two city-based GPs.