The Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) welcomed the Government decision
to reform discretionary medical cards but stated that people, who are
living with advanced incurable illnesses or are receiving palliative
care, should have a statutory entitlement to a medical card.
“No-one should face death or bereavement without appropriate care and
support. People with advanced incurable illness should automatically
be entitled to a medical card. They should not have to worry about
paying medical bills or even consider not taking up a treatment option
because they are waiting for a decision on the medical card or have been
refused a card,” said Sharon Foley, IHF, Chief Executive Officer.
A study conducted by hospice and palliative care social workers
across nine counties in 2009-2010 found that processing requests for
medical cards varied from one day to 85 days.
Some 23% of applications
took more than 20 days to process.
As a result, 13% of patients died
before the process was complete.
Ms Foley continued, “All patients diagnosed with a life-limiting
illness should have access to a full range of free medical and health
services in the community including basic supports at home. By
supporting patients and their families at home, the State is reducing
the possibility that patients will have to use expensive hospital
services. It is also enabling people to fulfil their wish to die
comfortably at home.”
The IHF is also working with the HSE to develop a national paediatric
palliative care service.
The charity has agreed to fund, over the next
three years, five out of eight outreach nurses.
The nurses will
support families caring for children with limiting conditions at home.
Ireland’s first consultant in Children’s Palliative Medicine took up her
post last month and the IHF is funding her for five years.
The IHF is working with the HSE in its Palliative Care For All
programme to support the development of palliative interventions for
people of all ages with advancing, life-limiting diseases other than
cancer.
The IHF is also fully behind the National Council of the Forum on End
of Life in Ireland, which this week called on the government to reform
and regulate the funeral and cremation services industry – one of
Ireland’s least regulated businesses.
Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness,
Chair of the National Council, stated, “Submissions to the Forum
revealed major problems in Ireland in relation to sub-standard funeral
care.”
“People cited an extreme variation in the standard of service
provided by funeral directors with reported instances of neglect or
misconduct. Other issues raised included poor standards in embalming
and lack of transparency with many funeral directors issuing ambiguous
and inappropriate invoices. This has caused extreme distress to
families at a time when they are particularly vulnerable. The least
people can expect is that they and their loved ones are treated with
respect and dignity at such an important time and are offered a
professional and accountable service.”
The Forum has published a discussion document The Funeral Industry in Ireland: The case for reform and regulation.
In it, the Forum calls for:
- The establishment of a national office - the Office for the Regulation of Funeral
- The official certification of the industry with each Funeral Service Provider approved and subject to a Code of Practice and regulatory standards
- Training to be mandatory for funeral staff in manual lifting, health and safety and embalming
- That clients be given a written estimate of all funeral cost and itemised bill.