Lymphoedema Ireland today called on the Expert Panel on medical card eligibility to recommend that patients with lymphoedema are granted a medical card on the basis of the complex medical and social needs that arise from the condition.
Lymphoedema is a chronic, incurable and debilitating condition that can have serious impacts on the quality of life of people with the condition. If not treated effectively, consequences include long term disability, serious infection, reduced quality of life, emotional problems and problems at work. It affects an estimated 15,000 people in Ireland and can be life-threatening because of the risk of serious infections.
Approximately a third of those with lymphoedema in Ireland have what is called primary lymphoedema, which is caused by congenital or genetic abnormalities. The remainder have secondary lymphoedema, caused by radiotherapy, advanced cancers, infections and other diseases. Each year in the region of 1,300 people in Ireland develop secondary lymphoedema as a result of cancer treatment.
Chairperson of Lymphoedema Ireland, Nina Murray said that even though it may be greatly improved with appropriate treatment and day to day self-management, “many patients with lymphoedema are not told of the risks associated with the condition, do not receive adequate treatment, are unable to afford to pay for expensive private treatment and as a result are experiencing significant deterioration in their conditions and quality of life”.
Lymphoedema Ireland reports that there is little consistency in the experience of its members who already have medical cards in terms of the services and supports available to them. “Some medical card holders have access to specially fitted garments but we have had calls from people who have been denied coverage for garments despite having a full medical card. Likewise, some patients receive bandages as medical card holders; others have to pay for them.”
Acknowledging the competition for resources and the demands on the health system at this time, Lymphoedema Ireland has called on the HSE to provide patients with access to multi-disciplinary services, necessary medical supplies including bandages and specially fitted compression garments as part of the medical card system. “Failure to provide such care will only create further costs and more complex issues for the health services into the future”, Murray added.
The HSE has recently conducted an internal survey of services available to people with lymphoedema. Lymphoedema Ireland is calling on the HSE to respond to the findings of this survey and prepare a plan for the development of services for people with lymphoedema.
Lymphoedema Ireland's submission to the Expert Panel is available here.
ENDS
Lymphoedema is a chronic, incurable and debilitating condition that can have serious impacts on the quality of life of people with the condition. If not treated effectively, consequences include long term disability, serious infection, reduced quality of life, emotional problems and problems at work. It affects an estimated 15,000 people in Ireland and can be life-threatening because of the risk of serious infections.
Approximately a third of those with lymphoedema in Ireland have what is called primary lymphoedema, which is caused by congenital or genetic abnormalities. The remainder have secondary lymphoedema, caused by radiotherapy, advanced cancers, infections and other diseases. Each year in the region of 1,300 people in Ireland develop secondary lymphoedema as a result of cancer treatment.
Chairperson of Lymphoedema Ireland, Nina Murray said that even though it may be greatly improved with appropriate treatment and day to day self-management, “many patients with lymphoedema are not told of the risks associated with the condition, do not receive adequate treatment, are unable to afford to pay for expensive private treatment and as a result are experiencing significant deterioration in their conditions and quality of life”.
Lymphoedema Ireland reports that there is little consistency in the experience of its members who already have medical cards in terms of the services and supports available to them. “Some medical card holders have access to specially fitted garments but we have had calls from people who have been denied coverage for garments despite having a full medical card. Likewise, some patients receive bandages as medical card holders; others have to pay for them.”
Acknowledging the competition for resources and the demands on the health system at this time, Lymphoedema Ireland has called on the HSE to provide patients with access to multi-disciplinary services, necessary medical supplies including bandages and specially fitted compression garments as part of the medical card system. “Failure to provide such care will only create further costs and more complex issues for the health services into the future”, Murray added.
The HSE has recently conducted an internal survey of services available to people with lymphoedema. Lymphoedema Ireland is calling on the HSE to respond to the findings of this survey and prepare a plan for the development of services for people with lymphoedema.
Lymphoedema Ireland's submission to the Expert Panel is available here.
ENDS