HSE told to speed up medical card delivery

The Minister for Health says he has told the HSE in no uncertain terms that delays in issuing medical cards are not acceptable and must be tackled.

James Reilly said he spoke with Paddy Burke, head of the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service which runs the medical card scheme, and told him application processing must speed up.

“I have made it very clear to the PCRS that this has to be the case and the last people that should be left in the lurch in terms of any problems there are is the patient,” he said. Mr Burke had earlier apologised for difficulties encountered by applicants which were highlighted at the Public Accounts Committee by TDs this week.