Hopes rise that medical cards could be returned

Hope was rising last night that some of the people who had medical cards snatched away over the past 18 months could see them returned after the Cabinet discussed the "difficulty" caused by the controversy.

Ministers failed to reach agreement on the matter, but plan to continue to look at the highly charged situation, a Government spokesperson said.

However, a number of families who are currently appealing their medical rejections were last night told by HSE via text that their cards were being approved.

It was unclear whether any family that had been turned down and had not appealed had also received a text.

Refusal to return medical cards to people who lost them, despite the controversial review which saw the widespread withdrawal being abandoned, has provoked anger among patients’ rights groups.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s press spokesperson said ministers had noted the difficulty the withdrawal of medical cards had caused. “There was a general [Cabinet] discussion around all aspects of discretionary medical cards, including those cards that have already been taken off people, and the difficulty that would provide for some people when you have a review process that has been halted now. There was no outcome, but I would expect that particular aspect of the medical card issue to be discussed again.” The spokesperson would not be drawn on whether cards would be returned, either to all those who lost them, or to people with particular circumstances.

Head of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP committee Dr Ray Walley is among those insisting the HSE could easily have restored the discretionary cards to thousands of people.

The lifeline benefit was taken from children with Down’s Syndrome and people with serious illnesses or disabilities, with the review only halted after the voter backlash in the recent elections inflicted on the Coalition over its implementation at the European and local elections.

Cabinet ministers have still to appoint an expert panel to look into the matter.

The junior minister responsible for primary care — and Labour Party leadership contender — Alex White has said the group’s examination would be limited to people whose cards are “currently” under review.