'I had to buy new brakes from eBay'
A Cork man living with a spinal cord injury has described having to buy brakes for his wheelchair on eBay because he doesn’t qualify for a medical card.
Richard Murray from Ballinlough, who has been in a wheelchair since injuring his spine in a fall in 2021, has had to source and pay for a number of parts for his chair, including having to buy tires from a bike shop in Dublin.
Since his accident, he has had multiple applications for a medical card rejected on grounds that he and his wife’s combined income falls outside the threshold for qualification.
In Ireland, a person who sustains a spinal cord injury (SCI) is assessed on their financial means rather than their medical needs in their application for a medical card.
Without a card, Mr Murray has been unable to get a referral to the HSE wheelchair clinic or a private clinic to have his chair properly serviced.
“I tried to get support in giving my wheelchair a service as obviously it does a lot of mileage,” he said.
“There are two places I tried and because I didn't have a medical card, they can’t really do anything for me.
“One of those two, MMS Medical, did have me in but they couldn't do anything more than tightening a few things, whereas if I had a medical card, it could have been a fairly thorough service - replacing parts, etc.
"For example, I had to buy new brakes from eBay, new tires from a bike shop in Dublin," explained Mr Murray.
One of the biggest expenses he has faced was for a specialised pressure relieving cushion which set him back €820, without which he could develop serious skin problems.
He said: “I was shocked, even though I know it’s not an ordinary cushion. A medical card would pay for that I’m pretty sure.
“It would put you off paying for it but it’s absolutely essential because if you have the wrong cushion, you could get skin problems from pressure and the only cure for that is getting off the chair for a long period of time, easily months.
“I’ve gotten one at that price since December 2021, but I’ve had to buy covers twice as they get shredded up by constantly taking them on and off the chair when I get into my car.
“The covers alone are over €200,” added Mr Murray.
In Monday’s full meeting of Cork County Council, Fianna Fáil Cllr Deirdre Kelly put forward a motion calling on the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality to review the current means over needs medical card qualification policy.
She said: “People living with spinal injuries often face lifelong and complex medical needs including regular consultations with specialists, physiotherapy, pain management treatments, mental health supports, assistive technologies, and frequent monitoring for secondary health complications.
“Currently, many people with spinal injuries fall outside the existing eligibility thresholds despite having substantial medical requirements directly related to their disability. As a result, they may delay or forego vital treatment which can lead to preventable deterioration move their head and increased long term cost to the state.”
In September, county Cork was rocked by the sad passing of Fianna Fáil county councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy who had used a wheelchair since a car accident in 1993.
“I remember asking Patrick Gerard about this at an ard fheis,” continued Cllr Kelly.
“I remember his reply was, ‘the fact of the matter here, Dee, is I’m not getting out of this chair anytime soon’.
“By reviewing the eligibility criteria and considering automatic entitlement to the full medical card for persons with spinal injuries, the Government will be recognising the unique and permanent nature of these injuries,” said Cllr Kelly.