A NUMBER of Co Donegal pensioners have had their entitlement to medical cards withdrawn, despite having at least two years left on them.
Inishowen Sinn Féin councillor Jack Murray has said his office has been contacted by a number of local pensioners whose medical cards were withdrawn without notification despite having expiry dates of 2015.
Cllr Murray said: “Many local pensioners are distraught after discovering that their medical cards had been cancelled while visiting the GP or local pharmacy. Some have serious illnesses which are extremely costly to treat.
“This is simply not good enough. These people rely on their medical cards for treatment that they need to survive. They cannot choose to go on without medical attention.
“They are now faced with the cumbersome task of reapplying for a medical card that they were told would not expire for another two years.
“I would encourage anyone encountering difficulties with their medical card to contact Pádraig Mac Lochlainn’s constituency office in Buncrana and we will do everything we can to help. In the meantime, the HSE and the government needs to sort out this mess immediately.”