Restore discretionary medical cards to those who had lost them

* Six-year-old boy with profound intellectual and physical disabilities who does not have use of his limbs, is incontinent, cannot communicate, and is confined to a wheelchair, had his card withdrawn as part of a review.

* 39-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis had her medical card revoked following a recent renewal application.

* 12-year-old girl with Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome was refused a card and her appeal has been ongoing since July.

* 69-year-old with complex life-threatening conditions has had a medical card since 2005 and has suddenly had it revoked.

* 67-year-old in end-stage renal failure lost the card following a review.

* 70-year-old with very complex ongoing medical issues had a card for 10 years and has had it revoked.

* 9-year-old boy with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy and a hearing impairment, held a full medical card, which was revoked when up for renewal in February. He has been refused again on appeal.

* Man in his early 50s with lung cancer, who had half of his right lung removed in March and has been recently diagnosed as bipolar, has had his medical card withdrawn after three years.

* Two-year-old boy with Down’s Syndrome, who is profoundly deaf, has serious medical needs, and requires substantial daily care, has had his medical card revoked.

* Six-year-old boy with a life-limiting and incurable illness, requiring 24-hour care and long hospital stays, has had his medical card withdrawn upon renewal in May.

* 50-year-old woman with progressive MS who has supplied medical evidence from GP, consultant and MS Ireland has been refused a medical card on means grounds, because her husband is a teacher.

* Eight-year-old boy with Down’s Syndrome, chronic asthma, two severe skin conditions, sight difficulties, and bilateral hearing loss has had his medical card revoked on renewal, even though his family’s means have reduced since it was first issued in 2005.

* Family of five have had their full medical cards revoked, despite the fact that the 52-year-old man has diabetes and psoriatic arthropathy and requires regular tests and treatment. His son is also diabetic and requires insulin four times daily and his second son has Down’s Syndrome.

* Man in his 50s with cancer who is receiving ongoing treatment, has undergone a stem cell transplant, and is still receiving chemotherapy, haematology treatment and bone marrow treatment, has had his card revoked.

* 50-year-old man who underwent a kidney transplant five years ago and needs regular hospital treatment, had his medical card revoked when he applied for renewal.

* 56-year-old woman who suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis, and requires treatment costing more than €100 a week had her card revoked on renewal in April.

* Man in his early 30s, with three young children, who suffers from ADHD, drug addiction, depression, and a fractured vertebrae had his card and his children’s cards revoked on renewal in August.

* Woman in her 50s who suffers from osteopenia and severe rheumatoid arthritis had her medical card revoked on renewal in April. Her appeal was also rejected.

* Woman in her 60s with a range of medical conditions and awaiting surgery on her kidneys and bowel, had her medical card removed in August when she applied to renew it.

* 30-year-old woman, who suffers from hypertension, is on long-term medication, and needs regular treatment, had her medical card revoked on renewal in April. She was refused again on appeal.

* Man in his 40s with three children, who always held a full medical card as he suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnoea, heart disease, and high blood pressure, had his card revoked on renewal in February.

Cllr Kenneth N O'Flynn    Contact the author of the petition