In a truly shocking story a Co Cork woman has spoken of how she had not been informed by the HSE that her severely ill 6 year old daughter is no longer entitled to a Medical Card.
The brave woman named Aileen Coote from Crosshaven Co Cork told TheLiberal that she was informed recently by her GP that her daughter Lilly who suffers from Systemic Juvenile Arthritis that her ill daughter is longer eligible for the scheme and that her card was subsequently canceled. Even more shockingly Ms Coote also said that she did not receive any letter from the medical card review board to give her a chance to appeal the decision. Young Lilly was tragically diagnosed with the chronic condition when she was just 2 years old.
A clearly upset Mrs Coote told TheLiberal she is currently at a loss without her daughter’s medical card as she makes regular visits to hospital for treatment, Mrs Coote said “Although she is currently pain free because of her treatment, Lilly still has to visit the hospital every 3 to 4 weeks so that she can receive infusion therapy in order to manage her condition so that she does not get recurring pains to her feet, knees and hands.” Mrs Coote went onto say that her daughter makes regular trips to her GP so that a number of medical procedures along with treatment can be carried out, Mrs Coote said young Lilly normally has a blood test carried out by her GP on a regular basis which is normally covered by her medical card but will now cost €30, little Lilly also receives her methotrextate prescription when she visits he GP which would normally cost the standard charge €2.50 but now Mrs Coote does not know how much Lilly’s medication cost without her medical card.
The news could not have come at the worst time for the Coote family as on Monday young Lilly will have to visit the hospital in order to receive her latest infusion therapy traetment. Mrs Coote said Lilly’s latest treatment will now cost €75 euro as they now have to pay for being a day case. Then if that was hard enough the Coote family will then have to drive to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin to see her primary consultant, as there is currently no rheumatology specialists based in Cork.
Ms Coote also spoke of how she has looked after young Lilly who turns 7 later this year . Mrs Coote said: Lilly was very ill when she was first diagnosed back in 2011 at the tender age of 2, the condition severely affected both her hands, knees, feet and neck and even worse still she stopped eating and drinking which made her lose so much weight.” “I couldn`t even shower or bath her as she was in so much pain, with all the pain she was vomiting and couldn’t keep anything down.” “Lilly had physio and occupational therapy to help us get walking and holding things properly again.” However thankfully after years of many drugs she is finally on a 3/4 weekly infusion that has her finally pain free and hopefully getting closer to getting her into remission.”
The emotional mother went onto speak of how her brave little girl still has the strength and enthusiasm to enjoy life Mrs Coote said: “Lilly is such a trooper and loves playing with her friends, swimming and reading her books. she says she gets tired but she just loves life and just puts her whole heart into everything.”
Meanwhile Mrs Coote has since contacted a local TD Micheal Martin offices in Turners Cross in Cork to help with their situation. Mrs Coote said: The people who work for Mr Martin have been unbelievable in trying to get to the bottom of this, they called the medical review board and they did admit that they had not sent me a letter to inform me of Lilly not getting her card renewed.”
It is understood that representatives from Micheal Martins office are trying to get Lilly’s card reinstated so that Mrs Coote can at least appeal. Michael Martin’s office have told the Coote family that Lilly should be still entitled to use her medical card whilst they are appealing the decision.
Mrs Coote spoke highly of the help she received from her local Councillor’s office saying: “hopefully Mr Martin and his people can help us as it is quite costly between drugs and hospital visits.” Ms Coote contiued: “As a family we are happy to pay for our GP visits and medications but Lilly has a life long illness and her medical card would be helpful, thankfully she is doing well for now because of the medications that she is on.”
Mrs Coote also liked to thank the ICAN ( Irish Childrens Arthritis Network) because without them and their support her family would be lost. http://www.icanireland.ie/