Sir, – Gordon Deegan’s article “HSE weighs up medical card freeze until 2012”, Home News, October 14th) begs one big question: Is this a health care system gone mad?
I was appalled and angered to read about the range of drastic measures being considered by the HSE, such as suspension of the issuing of new medical cards; a 24 per cent reduction in home help hours; the suggestion that no further aids or appliances will be supplied to families and all this to happen between now and the end of the year, with the aim of saving €300 million, so that the HSE can break even in 2011.
Nowhere in proposed cuts is there any mention of equally severe cuts to administration costs. Why not? Perhaps we are feeling the chill of this equipment freeze already with one of our families asked this month to bring their own batch of disposable suction tubes from home into hospital for their child. This type of budget- slashing is a false economy and is going to cost more in the long run, putting huge levels of stress on the most vulnerable in society, yet again.
The implications on our families are huge and some will no longer cope caring for their child at home: families of children with brain damage who require intensive care at home; families who can’t take this added pressure. Furthermore, there are simply not enough beds available for the potential avalanche of demand.
I see these moves by the HSE as an absolute admission that they are no longer able to manage homecare services. On the other side, this foundation is ready, willing and able to look after our population of 300 children nationwide up to the age of six with a saving of €42 million per annum to the State, but the HSE still doesn’t see the sense of investing in Jack Jill 50/50. Wake them up please. – Yours, etc,