Carers rightly call a spade a spade

[red-devil]

To watch Primetime last night and to see the way carers and cared for are been treated is a national crying disgrace. This government that was voted in really showed their true colour last night. They hadn't even got the decency to send a representative of the HSE never mind the minister. To watch them familys suffer over cutbacks, when the lot of them in power is still rifling the public purse with expenses, big wages, made me mad. They were quick enough to send someone on programmes like PT when FF where in power, we used to have Reilly on constantly between radio, VB and PT, now they couldn't be bothered cause they got the votes and the real reason why no-one from kildare st was there became evident when the people in the audience started to talk, all the promises where gave to them and their names where took during election campaign,but they heard nothing back from the so called ministers, they where there to ask the questions and the yellow government knew it. My god some chap needs half his spine removed, he's waiting 4yr and if it would of been done back then he could of had a chance. What made me really mad was the consultant in tallaght doesn't do them anymore cause theres no money, until you see him doing the same operation in blackrock a few weeks later, so when it comes to human life, it still seems like we have the have's and have nots. The same consultants the minister for health fought for in their pay agreement. I really pity anyone who gets sick and is depending on the public health system, cause unless you have money your just going to be thrown on the scrap heap

[White Rose]

The government doesn't have the money anymore. Where is the money to come from? The old age pension, children's allowance, the dole?

[dresden8]

The government doesn't have the money anymore. Where is the money to come from? The old age pension, children's allowance, the dole?

Maybe they could take a couple of billion off the Quinn family.

[Thac0man]

The government doesn't have the money anymore. Where is the money to come from? The old age pension, children's allowance, the dole?

Sadly true. It not a good time to need or require help.

[Good Irish Mammy]

Can't imagine there'd be anything like the level of posts on this one as there would be on the trivia/gossip threads. Try living with someone who has dementia. Someone who reared you. Someone you love. Where could the money come from White Rose? Redirect the billions we're giving to assume bankers' gambling debts and to prop up the failed European banking system. Then reconfigure our 'society' around something approaching civility. If not quite civilisation.

[grumpydunphy]

The government doesn't have the money anymore. Where is the money to come from? The old age pension, children's allowance, the dole?

I'm sure the likes of Ivor Callely and Donie Cassidy would be only too glad to offer a little patronage at this time.....

[wexfordman]

The government doesn't have the money anymore. Where is the money to come from? The old age pension, children's allowance, the dole?

One thing that would help is if the government were to have a free hand in deciding where to cut back rather than be restrained by agreements such as the CPA ?

[dresden8]

Several millions off Seanie, Ffingers and Drumm.

Not to mention the 2 billion set aside under NAMA to act as social welfare for the legal industry.

There's plenty of money, the carers can rev up and fnck off if they think they are going to see any of it.

But hell yeah, let's blame the clerical officers.

[SeanMac]

Disgusting to watch how decent Irish people,carers,the elderly,the disabled, have to exist on peanuts while we have the elite in society payed outrageous sums of money,bonuses,pensions etc.Of course then we have the idle scroungers on welfare,welfare tourists,overseas aid,the bank bailout.This country is going down the tubes.

[laidback]

The programme was truly shocking and every case featured upset me.

One woman with motor neurone disease told us how she had been refused a discretionary medical card - these are normally given to those with long term illnesses whose medical and care needs are high and ongoing but where their income is above the normal limit for a card.

I understand that in the past getting a discretionary card if you supplied medical evidence of your condition was not a problem. This woman it seems was not ill enough.

A friend with a late diagnosis of cancer was refused a discretionary medical card earlier this month. He appealed and got a letter saying there was a backlog of appeals and it would take some time (unspecified) for him to get a ruling. It asked him not to contact the appeals office about his application as the volume of calls (ie from sick people needing their cards) was not helping them(the officials).

His wife emailed the appeals officer saying this was not acceptable and that she would raise the matter of delayed appeals including his with the Minister. Five days later he got his card.

Of course maybe the threat of the minister and the arrival of the card may not be related events?