Mother’s Medical Card Appeal For Her Nine-Year-Old Daughter’s Cancer Treatment Has Been Rejected By The HSE Once More

A  mother’s appeal to the HSE to get a medical card for her daughter who is currently battling cancer has been rejected once more. Angela O’Connor from Kildare went public with her story just over a month ago, revealing that her family were struggling to cope with the financial pressure of her daughter’s medical bills. Her nine-year-old daughter Lucy is currently receiving treatment at Crumlin Hospital. Angela stated that she had to give up work in order to support Lucy through the treatment. “I haven’t worked since September 2014, as she needs round the clock care and is unable to be left alone in hospital,” she stated five weeks ago. “This is a life-threatening illness. It is cancer, she has already faced surgery and yet here we are refused a medical card, refused anything really, there is nothing available if you are working and paying tax!” Angela and her family since appealed the HSE’s decision but revealed on Tuesday of this week that the appeal has also been rejected. “Thank you all so much for your support, five weeks ago, we made the decision to go public, on the refusal of Lucy’s access to a discretionary medical card for the duration of her treatment for cancer, she was diagnosed with cancer in September 2014, we appealed this decision [refusal of a medical card] to the HSE. “Today, I received a phone call to say this appeal has been unsuccessful. This is despite having to submit further medical reports on Lucy’s medical condition,” she stated. “We were only looking for a medical card for the duration of her treatment for cancer, which will be for another full year at least. “I don’t really know what to say. I have been offered at least 50 medical cards from people, fund-raisers, everything. “But all we ever wanted was to have her medical expenses covered during this time,” she continued, before going on to thank people for all the support they have given her and her family in the last number of months. You can follow Angela's blog here.