Madam, - The introduction in 2001 of the scheme entitling all over-70s to a medical card was a very important healthcare development.
It guarantees ready and immediate access to a general practitioner should an elderly person suddenly become unwell. It also ensures that the services of public health nursing and community care are readily available.
It allows for a more streamlined and integrated discharge plan for elderly patients from hospital back into the community - a core objective of the scheme.
The cost of providing medical cards for the over-70s is by now well factored into revenue and the only additional cost is the provision of extra cards for those who reach their 70th birthdays. From this sum can be subtracted the cost of paying for the cards of elderly people who pass away. The increased revenue costs each year are therefore minimal.
The over-70s medical card provision was an inspired advance in the care of elderly people and it is imperative that this progressive step is not undermined. - Yours, etc,
J. BERNARD WALSH,
Consultant Geriatrician and Clinical Professor,
St James's Hospital and Trinity College Dublin.
***
Madam, - Your edition of September 27th contains two separate articles that demand to be read together. The first reports that "people reaching the age of 70 will no longer automatically receive a medical card if the Government approves a proposed new cost-saving measure".
The second quotes the prescient words of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin: "The danger in a recession is that the greedy suffer less than those who have been working hard, doing their tasks and looking after their families." He adds: "I believe it is the weakest who pay the heaviest price."
The recession has truly brought us to the jungle conditions of survival of the fittest in which our Celtic Tiger cubs are — if not devouring — then certainly proposing to abandon the elderly and the chronically ill. This is the generation of people - the over-70s and those approaching 70 - whose sacrifices, discipline and hard work over the last decades of the 20th century provided the foundation of the the prosperous Tiger economy that our heirs have mismanaged and squandered.
And now this generation may be subjected to the ultimate cruelty of being asked to pay for the sins and shortcomings of the latter-day Soldiers of Destiny. We can only echo Lear's cry: "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is/ To have a thankless child."
Perhaps the cubs should be reminded of the political consequences of a proposed tax on children's shoes back in 1982. If they don't know, they should ask their parents. - Yours, etc,
KEN MAWHINNEY,
Clonard Drive,
Dublin 16.
***
Madam, - Last week the HSE abandoned its plan to extend the free influenza vaccination to all those aged between 50 and 65 ( The Irish Times, September 27th). The decision was apparently motivated by a desire to save money in our current economic difficulties.
I believe this to be incredibly short-sighted and financially nonsensical. By denying the flu vaccine to thousands of Irish people, the HSE ensures that many of them will develop influenza. As a result, they will be unable to work and have to attend their general practitioners for treatment and sickness certification.
The resulting additional workload in the primary care sector will lead to delays in treatment for all patients. The inevitable consequences will be seen in increased attendances at Accident and Emergency departments. Ultimately, this means many more sick patients are suffering on trolleys due to a lack of acute bed capacity.
The overall financial loss to the Exchequer from influenza outbreaks will be many times the cost of vaccinating those aged 50 to 65. Unfortunately, the HSE appears to have neither the vision nor the ability to comprehend this. The result will be much human suffering at enormous expense to the taxpayer.
This decision must be reversed immediately. - Yours, etc,
Dr RUAIRI HANLEY,
Francis Street,
Drogheda,
Co Louth.