MAGDALENES Finally Get Promised Health Cards

By Eilish O'Regan
Irish Independent
May 23, 2015

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/magdalenes-finally-get-promised-health-cards-31246325.html

Women who worked in the Magdalene laundries and two similar institutions will get a long-awaited health card giving access to a range of free services including GP care

The card will be given to women who have accepted a formal offer of compensation under the Restorative Justice Scheme.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald and Social Care Minister Kathleen Lynch said the "RWRCI Cards" will issue to the women in June and take effect from July 1.

In the meantime, the HSE will be directly contacting the women who have accepted a formal offer made under the Restorative Justice Scheme.

It will entitle them to GP services, prescribed drugs, medicines, aids and appliances, dental, ophthalmic and aural services, home nursing, home support, chiropody or podiatr, physiotherapy and counselling.

Ms Fitzgerald said: "The Government has given its commitment to implementing all of the recommendations made by Mr Justice Quirke in his report on the Magdalene Laundries.

"The Government has already set up a range of payments and supports for the women who worked in these institutions.

"Payments of up to ˆ100,000 are being made to these women, depending on their length of stay in the laundries. In addition, the Department of Social Protection is making pension type payments to these women."

The Department of Health said that, with the HSE, it was examining arrangements to be put in place for health services for women living abroad.