Following on from the visit of The Minster for Disabilities, Finian McGrath, Spinal Injuries Ireland conducted a survey to provide him with up to date statistics on the impact of a lack of automatic entitlement to a medical card for people with spinal cord injury.  The results of this survey have been forwarded to the Minister and his staff following two meetings with SII and the Minister’s office, as well as the Ministers’ attendance at the SII AGM in October 2016.

The survey was emailed to 716 Service Users and phone calls were made to a further 220 service users.  A total of 389 surveys were completed (41% of those contacted).

Q.1 How old are you?

15 (4%) respondents were aged between 15 to 25 years old

42(11%) respondents were aged between 26 to 35 years old

94 (24%) respondents were aged between 36 to 45 years old

96 (25%) respondents were aged between 46 to 55 years old

81 (21%) respondents were aged between 56 to 65 years old

61 (15%) respondents were aged 66 years and older

Q.2 What year did you sustain your spinal cord injury?

374 respondents answered:

107 (29%) sustained their injury in the past 5 years

85 (23%) sustained their injury between 2005 and 2010

61 (16%) sustained their injury between 1999 and 2010

124 (32%) sustained their injury previous to 1999.

Q.3. Which of the following best describes your current occupation?

388 respondents answered:

71 (18%) in full or part time employment

159 (41%) unemployed

18 (5%) in full or part time education

6 (1%) undertaking voluntary work

21 (5%) at home full time with children

27 (7%) self employed

86 (22%) other

Q.4. Do you have a Medical Card?

389 respondents answered:

272 (70%) – Yes

117 (30%) – No

Q.5. If the answer to Q4 is ‘yes’, is your Medical Card:

331 respondents answered:

161 (49%) – Means tested (issued based on your assessed household income)

104 (31%) – Discretionary (issued based on medical need though your household income may be over the threshold)

66 (20%) – I do not have a Medical Card

Q.6. If the answer to Q.4. is ‘no’, have you been previously issued and then subsequently lost your Medical Card?

314 respondents answered:

69 (22%) – Yes

121 (38%) – No

124 (39%) – Not applicable, I have a Medical Card

Q.7. Has taking up full or part time employment resulted in you losing your Medical Card?

364 respondents answered:

38 (10%) – Yes

132 (36%) – No

194 (53%) – Not currently employed

Q.8. Does fear of losing your Medical Card prevent you from seeking paid employment now or in the future?

356 respondents answered:
155 (43%) – Yes

102 (29%) – No

99 (28%) – Not applicable, I am currently employed