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Case Study: HSE grants woman ‘physical and sensory disability’ support after circumstances highlighted by the Ombudsman
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Deirdre complained to the Ombudsman when her application for Physical and Sensory Disability Services was refused by the HSE. The HSE did not accept that Deirdre was eligible for support under the service and referred her to primary care services.
Deirdre suffers from illness as a result of a workplace accident. She is disabled and does not have proper use of her lower limbs. Her GP was dismayed to learn that her request was refused. He hoped that she would be entered on a rehabilitation programme that would assist Deirdre with activities of daily living and improve her quality of life. The matter was urgent as Deirdre’s landlord was selling the house and she faced eviction.
The HSE’s Physical and Sensory Disability Referral Team had considered Deirdre’s application and believed she had a medical condition which would require consideration of supports through Primary Care Services rather than having a long term established physical or sensory disability. Deirdre had appealed the decision but the appeal was not upheld.
In light of the evidence presented by Deirdre and her GP, the Ombudsman queried the basis of the decision to refuse the application, whether her GP’s letter was considered during the course of the appeal, the types of supports through Primary Care Services which would apply in this case, whether she was provided with information on how to apply to Primary Care Services or if the HSE referred her to Primary Care Services.
In response, the HSE carried out a further review of Deirdre’s application and decided that she met the criteria for Physical and Sensory Disability Services. It contacted Deirdre and apologised for the delay and distress that was caused as a result of its previous decision. Deirdre’s application for Physical and Sensory Disability Services was approved.