A local city councillor and former vice chairperson of the HSE West’s regional health forum has lashed out at the health authority’s decision to continue with its plans to centralise the processing of medical cards to Dublin.
Cllr Catherine Connolly said the move in the face of the “unanimous opposition” of 40 councillors on the forum is both “shocking and stupid”.
The service was previously operated by HSE community welfare officers and meant local applications were dealt with here, she explained.
“At a meeting of the forum in March 2009 it unanimously opposed such a move, indeed members roundly condemned the decision and called for its immediate reversal. Indeed the forum went further and specifically asked Dr Conroy, the director of the forum, to convey this result to the HSE in Dublin and to Minister Mary Harney.
“Again at the newly constituted health forum meeting on the 14th July the forum unanimously condemned the decision to centralise all medical card applications to Dublin. Yet notwithstanding the decision of the health forum, Mr McNulty [HSE official] confirmed that it is intent on ploughing ahead with its centralisation plans.”
Cllr Connolly said this “level of stupidity and crass indifference” to the opinions of councillors of all parties is “absolutely contemptuous” of local democracy.
“As it stands, the offices in Dublin, where all applications in relation to medical cards for the over 70s are handled, (since January ‘07 under a pilot scheme ) is under severe strain with a backlog of over six weeks in processing applications/queries. I understand that the offices in Finglas are receiving 1,000 phone calls a day as it stands.”
To add 87,000 extra medical card owners from Galway city and county to an already overburdened system in Dublin “beggars belief”, she insists.
“In contrast, the service provided by community care staff in Shantalla has been second to none. All queries/applications re medical cards are processed not only in a very speedy and efficient manner but also in a very human way. Staff in the medical card section have always been more than willing and available to advise ordinary people re their entitlement to a medical card and or answer any of their queries.
“For example, in Galway alone every month, the HSE West staff review approximately 1,500 medical cards. In addition due to the current economic downturn they also process on a monthly basis an additional 1,000 new applications.To destroy such an excellent service in Galway and move it to an already over-burdened office in Dublin is nothing short of mind-numbing stupidity.”
She claimed the move is a “complete denigration” of the service provided to date in Galway and “makes no sense”.
Cllr Connolly said she welcomed the decision by members of the Impact trade union to oppose the decision with industrial action being undertaken if necessary.
“This is a decision which has to be reversed in the interests of people’s welfare but also in the interests of providing and efficient and good service. I will raise the matter at every health forum meeting from now on.”
