I strongly welcome the announcement that children under the age of 18 with a cancer diagnosis will be issued with medical cards effective from 1st July 2015.
Following my repeated representations in the Seanad and with my ministerial colleagues, I am delighted that children and young people under 18 years with a cancer diagnosis will be awarded a medical card for a period of 5 years from today. Children who have received a cancer diagnosis in the last five years will also be awarded a medical card.
Parents, families and children who receive the very difficult news that their child has been diagnosed with cancer should be adequately supported with the obvious additional costs associated with a situation of this nature.
Families should not feel as though they need to fight for a medical card when faced with this situation. Since entering the Seanad I have worked on behalf of many individuals and families in relation to medical cards, disability payments and other supports and have advocated that a sensitive approach be administered.
In some instances it can be very difficult to encapsulate the real-life situation the family is experiencing on a medical card form. When a child receives a cancer diagnosis this has a life-changing effect on the family unit in their day to day life as well as taking an emotional toll.
I fully support this move and will remain vigilant on the matter to ensure that families and children with a cancer diagnosis receive an efficient and responsive service from the HSE.
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