Paul McGrath Media Centre

IMO has medical card case - FG recommends £300m to comprehensively extend cover
Fine Gael’s deputy Spokesperson on Finance, Deputy Paul McGrath, said that the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has a case in relation to medical card entitlement and that Fine Gael recommends spending £300m in a full year to comprehensively extend medical card and primary care cover.
"At present only the poorest of the poor qualify for a medical card with only 31% of the population covered, despite an agreement between the Department of Health and the IMO to allow cover for up to 40% of the population.
"Fine Gael proposes doubling the medical income entitlement limits as follows:

Single person under 66 years old: £10,700 (was £4,870)

Married couple under 66 years old: £16,820 (was £7,044)

Married couple with two children: £19,720 (was £8,760)

"This would increase the numbers covered from 1.15 million to 1.6 million, entitling an additional 450,000 people to the medical card. This could be done immediately under the existing agreement with the IMO.
"Furthermore, Fine Gael proposes extending free GP services for:

Children up to the age of 18, and beyond that while in full time education

All senior citizens over the age of 65

Those on the lower 60% of incomes

Special provision for asthma sufferers and those with similar chronic disabilities

"This package of reforms would cost about £300m in a full year and would require negotiation with the IMO as it falls outside the current agreement. The concerns expressed at the IMO conference over the weekend are real. The Government has presided over chaos in the Hospital (secondary) care system and will create chaos and even greater inequality in the GP (primary) care system if they do not abandon ad hoc populist proposals for quick fix political gain.
"According to ESRI research, higher professionals (aged 55 to 64) have a death rate of 13 per 1000, semi-skilled 22 per 1000, and for unskilled manual workers the rate is 32 per 1000, almost three times higher than the professional persons of the same age group. It is time we created a primary and secondary health care system targeted at eliminating these inequalities. While Fine Gael has set out how this can be achieved the Government have not shown any concern to do so."

"Waiting lists for surgery still too long," says Deputy Paul McGrath
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his disappointment that the waiting time for surgery in Tullamore General Hospital can be more than 12 months and in some cases up to 2 years.
"The figures given by the Midland Health Board for waiting lists is most disappointing," says Deputy McGrath, "when we consider the many ‘waiting list initiatives’ that have been funded by taxpayers’ money."
"Indeed some people are waiting up to 2 years for hip surgery and this is unacceptable," says McGrath. "The pain and discomfort associated with arthritis of the hip is very severe and effects not only the ability to get about and be independent, but also leads to sleeplessness and affects a person’s wellbeing," says McGrath.
"There are currently 107 awaiting hip surgery in this area and 35 of those are waiting more than 12 months.
"While this waiting time is calculated from when the patient is passed as being suitable for surgery, the patient may, in fact, have been waiting many months for an appointment with the specialist," says Deputy McGrath.
"There are 463 adults waiting more that 12 months for ENT treatment while there are 259 children waiting more than 6 months for ENT treatment.
"These figures were revealed at a recent Health Board meeting.
"More needs to be done to eliminate long waiting times for surgery," says McGrath, "and we must ensure that there is equity of access for all of our Health Services."

"Army pensioners issue in Dáil," says Deputy Paul McGrath
Deputy Paul McGrath raised the issue of the inclusion of the military service allowance for retired army pensioners at Question Time in the Dáil.
"A strong case has been made to eliminate the serious anomaly which exists whereby members of the Defence Forces who retired between 1974 and 1990 are paid pensions at a much reduced rate to their colleagues who retired later," says Deputy McGrath.
"The Minister’s response is very disappointing and I hope that this Fianna Fáil led Government will honour the commitment given by Fianna Fáil in 1997 that this anomaly would be eliminated," says McGrath.

Bus service to Tullamore Hospital
Deputy Paul McGrath welcomed the recent initiative to provide a bus service from Longford to Mullingar and Tullamore.
"I welcome this Rural Transport Initiative which is supported by Bus Éireann, Longford Community Resources Ltd and the Midland Health Board," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
"For many years there has been a major deficit in public transport to enable people in Westmeath and Longford to attend clinics/outpatient facilities in Tullamore General Hospital and this service will help to fill this gap," says Deputy McGrath.
"The service will also enable people to visit relations and friends who may be hospitalized."
"While the service is quite limited at the moment, I hope that it will be well supported and that the service can become more frequent," says McGrath.
"A daily service will depart from Longford at 9.30am serving all areas along the N4 and getting to Mullingar Hospital at 10am. The bus will then depart Mullingar General Hospital for Tullamore, calling at the Fairgreen at 10.10am and traveling via Ballinea, Dysart, Castletown Geoghegan and Kilbeggan to Tullamore General Hospital arriving at 10.50am. The bus departs Tullamore at 1.40pm and makes the return journey to Mullingar and Longford.
"I have asked the Midland Health Board to bring this bus service to the attention of staff in both Mullingar and Tullamore hospitals to ensure that appointments are scheduled to fit in with bus schedules," says Deputy McGrath.
Return to Media Centre

Home | Top

	IMO has medical card case - FG recommends £300m to comprehensively extend cover Fine Gael’s deputy Spokesperson on Finance, Deputy Paul McGrath, said that the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has a case in relation to medical card entitlement and that Fine Gael recommends spending £300m in a full year to comprehensively extend medical card and primary care cover. "At present only the poorest of the poor qualify for a medical card with only 31% of the population covered, despite an agreement between the Department of Health and the IMO to allow cover for up to 40% of the population. "Fine Gael proposes doubling the medical income entitlement limits as follows: Single person under 66 years old: £10,700 (was £4,870) Married couple under 66 years old: £16,820 (was £7,044) Married couple with two children: £19,720 (was £8,760) "This would increase the numbers covered from 1.15 million to 1.6 million, entitling an additional 450,000 people to the medical card. This could be done immediately under the existing agreement with the IMO. "Furthermore, Fine Gael proposes extending free GP services for: Children up to the age of 18, and beyond that while in full time education All senior citizens over the age of 65 Those on the lower 60% of incomes Special provision for asthma sufferers and those with similar chronic disabilities "This package of reforms would cost about £300m in a full year and would require negotiation with the IMO as it falls outside the current agreement. The concerns expressed at the IMO conference over the weekend are real. The Government has presided over chaos in the Hospital (secondary) care system and will create chaos and even greater inequality in the GP (primary) care system if they do not abandon ad hoc populist proposals for quick fix political gain. "According to ESRI research, higher professionals (aged 55 to 64) have a death rate of 13 per 1000, semi-skilled 22 per 1000, and for unskilled manual workers the rate is 32 per 1000, almost three times higher than the professional persons of the same age group. It is time we created a primary and secondary health care system targeted at eliminating these inequalities. While Fine Gael has set out how this can be achieved the Government have not shown any concern to do so."
	"Waiting lists for surgery still too long," says Deputy Paul McGrath Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his disappointment that the waiting time for surgery in Tullamore General Hospital can be more than 12 months and in some cases up to 2 years. "The figures given by the Midland Health Board for waiting lists is most disappointing," says Deputy McGrath, "when we consider the many ‘waiting list initiatives’ that have been funded by taxpayers’ money." "Indeed some people are waiting up to 2 years for hip surgery and this is unacceptable," says McGrath. "The pain and discomfort associated with arthritis of the hip is very severe and effects not only the ability to get about and be independent, but also leads to sleeplessness and affects a person’s wellbeing," says McGrath. "There are currently 107 awaiting hip surgery in this area and 35 of those are waiting more than 12 months. "While this waiting time is calculated from when the patient is passed as being suitable for surgery, the patient may, in fact, have been waiting many months for an appointment with the specialist," says Deputy McGrath. "There are 463 adults waiting more that 12 months for ENT treatment while there are 259 children waiting more than 6 months for ENT treatment. "These figures were revealed at a recent Health Board meeting. "More needs to be done to eliminate long waiting times for surgery," says McGrath, "and we must ensure that there is equity of access for all of our Health Services."
	"Army pensioners issue in Dáil," says Deputy Paul McGrath Deputy Paul McGrath raised the issue of the inclusion of the military service allowance for retired army pensioners at Question Time in the Dáil. "A strong case has been made to eliminate the serious anomaly which exists whereby members of the Defence Forces who retired between 1974 and 1990 are paid pensions at a much reduced rate to their colleagues who retired later," says Deputy McGrath. "The Minister’s response is very disappointing and I hope that this Fianna Fáil led Government will honour the commitment given by Fianna Fáil in 1997 that this anomaly would be eliminated," says McGrath.
	Bus service to Tullamore Hospital Deputy Paul McGrath welcomed the recent initiative to provide a bus service from Longford to Mullingar and Tullamore. "I welcome this Rural Transport Initiative which is supported by Bus Éireann, Longford Community Resources Ltd and the Midland Health Board," says Deputy Paul McGrath. "For many years there has been a major deficit in public transport to enable people in Westmeath and Longford to attend clinics/outpatient facilities in Tullamore General Hospital and this service will help to fill this gap," says Deputy McGrath. "The service will also enable people to visit relations and friends who may be hospitalized." "While the service is quite limited at the moment, I hope that it will be well supported and that the service can become more frequent," says McGrath. "A daily service will depart from Longford at 9.30am serving all areas along the N4 and getting to Mullingar Hospital at 10am. The bus will then depart Mullingar General Hospital for Tullamore, calling at the Fairgreen at 10.10am and traveling via Ballinea, Dysart, Castletown Geoghegan and Kilbeggan to Tullamore General Hospital arriving at 10.50am. The bus departs Tullamore at 1.40pm and makes the return journey to Mullingar and Longford. "I have asked the Midland Health Board to bring this bus service to the attention of staff in both Mullingar and Tullamore hospitals to ensure that appointments are scheduled to fit in with bus schedules," says Deputy McGrath. Return to Media Centre