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Catherine Murphy welcomes move to end “shameful” practice of refusing treatment based on address
Press Releases | 16th May 2012
Following the tabling of a Parliamentary Question on the topic, Deputy Catherine Murphy (Independent – Kildare North) today broadly welcomed the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly’s confirmation that the practice of refusing in-patient and outpatient treatment services to individuals purely based on their address is to be immediately addressed. In some cases, said the Deputy, essential treatment had been refused “even where it was unavailable at any other location in the State.”
In a parliamentary reply issued today, Minister Reilly said that the practice is “unacceptable” and confirmed that a letter has been issued from the National Directors of the HSE and the Chief Operating Officer of the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) to all public hospitals in the country requesting that, with immediate effect, all hospitals should refrain from any further limiting of historic catchment areas. The Minister also stated that the requirement will be retrospective to the start of 2012 in most cases, and will apply to new referrals and existing patients receiving long term treatments.
“This move comes not a moment too soon. Recent figures show that almost 170,000 people are on waiting lists for outpatient services around the country, so it’s very important that we guard against the practice of refusing patients from becoming an acceptable means to reduce these lists. I applaud the healthcare workers operating under extremely difficult circumstances, particularly with the moratorium on recruitment. I call on the Minister to ensure that they are adequately resourced to tackle our waiting lists while ensuring access to treatment is based on need, and not address.
Posted by admin
on May 16, 2012. Filed under Healthcare,homepage,In the Dáil,Latest News,National Issues,Parliamentary Questions.
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