Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
784. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that, in the context of the ongoing reviews of medical card provision, all survivors of symphysiotomy and pubiotomy will continue to retain their entitlement to the special SOS medical cards they were granted, as part of a package of wider health supports for those who underwent these operations [18903/14]
View answerMy priority continues to be to ensure that the women who have undergone the Symphysiotomy procedure have their health needs comprehensively and professionally met. The HSE provides a range of services to women who may be experiencing any adverse effects as a result of undergoing this procedure. These services include the provision of medical cards, the availability of independent clinical advice and the organisation of individual pathways of care and the arrangement of appropriate follow-up. All of these services are available on request by the women from the HSE nominated Symphysiotomy Liaison Officers.
Medical cards granted to women on the basis of having undergone a surgical Symphysiotomy are subject to review by the HSE to confirm a continued need for the service. Once this is confirmed, cards are automatically reissued.
