Liver transplant recipient has medical card cancelled
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A LIVER transplant recipient, whose medical card was cancelled without explanation last May and is now struggling to meet the cost of necessary post-transplant medication, has said that contacting the HSE is like “talking to a wall”, and his wife fears that he will die if he has to go without his medication.
Kenneth Yeates (56), from Jobstown, had non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver and received a transplant in 2016, and as a result of his condition Mr Yeates had to leave his full-time job, where he worked in security, and is now unemployed.
Kenneth Yeates received a transplant in 2016. He is seen here with his wife Linda.
Mr Yeates had been relying on his medical card to fund his necessary post-transplant medication, which totals €140 a month, but he learned that his card had been cancelled when he went to collect his prescription in a pharmacy last May, despite the card having an expiry date of October 2018.
Since then, Mr Yeates and his wife, Linda Burdon (56), who also has health issues and is on a low income, said that they have contacted the HSE on a number of occasions in a bid to get Mr Yeates’ medical card reinstated.
Ms Burdon told The Echo: “I’ve been on the phone to the HSE about eight or nine times between August and November last year, and we’ve sent in forms to them.
“It’s Ken’s life that they’re playing with – the medication keeps him alive and stops the transplant from being rejected.
“If Ken goes off his medication he’ll go downhill and he’ll die.
“We’re struggling at this stage, and we’re being treated like we’re just a drop in the ocean.”
Ms Burdon added: “When you get no response from the HSE, you feel empty inside. It’s like you’re only a number to them.”
Mr Yeates is also frustrated about his interactions with the HSE, which he said were like “talking to a wall. You’d be better off talking to a mirror, because at least you’d get a response back.”
The couple also expressed their desire to thank the family of the person whose liver Mr Yeates received, but that they’ve been reluctant to attempt to reach out because of the situation they are currently in.
“[Taking away my medical card] is like spitting in the face of the donor,” Mr Yeates said.
Ms Burdon added: “We really want to thank [the donor’s family], but then I don’t want to be saying, ‘Sorry, my husband couldn’t get the medication he needed to keep the liver.’”
The couple said that they’re aware of the importance of eating healthy food in order to help their health conditions, however they’re often unable to do so as they have to choose between the higher cost of healthy food, or buying cheaper food so they will have enough money left to buy Mr Yeates’ medication.
Ms Burdon added: “We’ve always worked, and both of us worked full-time until Ken got ill four years ago and I had health issues.
“We’ve never asked for anything up and above what we’re entitled to.
“It’s the system’s fault, that those of us who have worked for years are being treated so badly.”
A spokesperson for the HSE said: “The HSE cannot comment on individual cases. Maintaining a client’s confidentiality is not only an ethical requirement for the HSE, it is also a legal requirement as defined in the Data Protection Acts (1988) and (2003). When a client or family makes personal information public, this does not relieve the HSE of its duty to preserve/uphold client confidentiality at all times.”
