Sufferers of a debilitating illness caused by the late effects of polio were being denied medical cards and inclusion on the long-term illness scheme, an Oireachtas committee was told yesterday.
The illness, Late Effects of Polio (LEP), was causing severe financial hardship to sufferers who received no financial assistance from the State, with 80 percent being refused a medical card, the Joint Committee on Health and Children heard.
The Post Polio Support Group (PPSG) called for a fund of €4.8 million over the next five years to alleviate the immediate needs of those most acutely affected, in addition to the admittance of polio and LEP on the long-term illness scheme.
Mr Jim Costello, the group's chairman, said the disabling condition affected polio survivors on average 35 years after the initial acute phase of paralytic polio had passed. There were between 7,000 and 10,000 polio survivors in the State and it was estimated that as many as 4,200 would experience LEP, which was an internationally recognised neurological disorder. At the moment, there were 500 members of the PPSG.
"We do not understand why the Minister for Health persistently refuses to recognise the difficult circumstances facing many of our members," Mr Costello said.
He called for a more flexible application of the rules governing the granting of medical cards. At present, this was subject to the discretion of the CEO of health boards.
"But this has not been fairly applied or handled in a sympathetic manner," Mr Costello said.
Intervention at the early stages of LEP and provision of medical services and equipment would significantly slow the rate of deterioration. This would be preventative medicine and enable people to stay at home and work and keep out of institutions. This would be cost-effective in the long run and reduce the ultimate bill to the State.
He said the onset of LEP placed immediate financial demands on people to provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy and related services. They needed aids and appliances such as wheelchairs, calipers and crutches.
A survey by occupational therapists for the PPSG showed LEP sufferers were aged between 37 and 87 years and over 60 per cent were under five when they contracted polio; 47 per cent were unable to work; 56 per cent could only manage financially with some or great difficulty; one-third lived at or below the minimum wage and 63 per cent had sought assistance across a multitude of areas to help them remain independent.
The committee chairman, Mr Batt O'Keeffe TD (FF), said the committee would write to the Minister and to the Department secretary, Mr Michael Kelly, recommending the inclusion of polio as part of the long-term illness scheme, and that medical cards and funds be made available.