NEWS FROM SAOIRSE
(freedom).
The Voice of the Irish Republican Movement.
Republican Sinn Féin
http://rsf.ie
223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
229 Falls Road, Belfast
LIMERICK people waiting for wheelchairs from the Department of Health have to hire their own because of cutbacks in the social services budget, the local branch of Republican Sinn Féin stated on February 22.Spokesperson Timmy King said that there is now a huge waiting list of people who need wheelchairs and the situation is becoming critical for many families.
“The funding for wheelchair grants is exhausted according to the Mid-Western Health Board’s social welfare office and therefore no wheelchairs can be provided at the present time.
“This situation is imposing considerable hardship on people who urgently require wheelchairs — not only is it prolonging their incapacity, families have to hire wheelchairs as a temporary measure.
“Hiring a wheelchair costs fifteen pounds a week and families will not be re-imbursed for this financial outlay, even though they are entitled to a wheelchair.
“This appalling state of affairs in the social services is putting extra trauma on people who are already ill and unable to get around without assistance.
“The fact that families have to hire wheelchairs - wheelchairs they are already entitled to - is a national scandal and the fault lies with the Department of Health because the scheme is totally under funded.”
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Web layout by SAOIRSE -- Irish Freedom March 11, 2002 Send links, events notifications, articles, comments etc, to the editor at: saoirse@iol.ie. |
