HSE is 'too busy' to deal with queries
Sunday November 29 2009
HSE bureaucrats are now telling applicants for medical cards that they are too busy to deal to deal with their queries and that they should wait three months after their initial contact has been made before they can pursue their claims.
Leas Ceann Comhairle and former health minister, Brendan Howlin asked the current Health Minister, Mary Harney, her views on whether it was "acceptable for the HSE to ask persons not to contact them regarding their entitlements for three months".
Mr Howlin was referring to a letter recently received by a constituent from the Consumer Affairs division of the bureaucrat-ridden organisation after appealing the decision to not grant a child a medical card.
In its response to the applicant, the HSE warned "not contact our offices for an update... for the next 12 weeks". In a somewhat contradictory statement, the applicants were also informed that this course of action would "save time and allow staff to focus in responding to appeals".
In response, Ms Harney declined to issue a comment on whether such actions were acceptable.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Mr Howlin noted of the response by the scandal-ridden HSE that "this was no way to deal with an important matter regarding the welfare of a sick child".
Mr Howlin added that he would not mind if he received a letter "saying we are under terrible pressure and will respond as quickly as possible" but that "telling people to simply go away and come back in three months' time is not the way social services should operate in a modern democracy".
- JOHN DRENNAN
Sunday Independent
