Technical Report - Donegal Traveller's Project

Health Survey FindingsTable 215: Which of the following do you think would be the main difficulties in accessinghealth care services? Percentages below indicate the number of persons who endorsed thedata item as a problem for them. Table presented by sex. (Questionnaire item C2_3)ROINIUnder 30n=18830-44n=10645 +n=89Under 30n=5630-44n=3745 +n=33Cost 30.9% 26.4% 34.8% 14.3% 24.3% 42.4%Waiting lists 61.2% 65.1% 62.9% 51.8% 35.1% 51.5%Health settings 19.1% 18.9% 32.6% 19.6% 27.0% 18.2%Lack of info. 38.8% 34.9% 36.0% 19.6% 45.9% 24.2%Embarrassment 52.1% 36.8% 50.6% 55.4% 45.9% 45.5%Difficult to get to 26.6% 20.8% 29.2% 8.9% 16.2% 12.1%Refused service 14.9% 12.3% 15.7% 12.5% 8.1% 18.2%Other 10.6% 6.6% 11.2% 12.5% 5.4% 3.0%(for those who had viewed their opportunities as ‘worse’ in comparison to others’ opportunities to access any ofthe health care services listed in Questionnaire item C2_2.)Respondents in ROI overwhelmingly had a medical card (92.2%) with an age gradient so that onehundred per cent of those 65 years and over reported having one. Of the small number who did not, allindicated that the card was simply out of date.The next three questions, relating to medical card status, were administered to ROI respondents only.Table 216: Do you have an up-to-date medical card? (ROI ONLY) (Questionnaire item C2_4)Yes No nTotal ROI 92.2% 7.8% 1,673Male ROI 92.5% 7.5% 703Female ROI 92.0% 8.0% 964Under 30 ROI 90.5% 9.5% 76130-44 ROI 92.3% 7.7% 42745 + ROI 95.7% 4.3% 397The experience of applying for a medical card in ROI was mixed. The application process being easyto understand was rated as good by 28.1% and very good by a further 19.1%. Time to process andcourtesy of staff was also mixed. Men had a poorer experience than women. Generally the experiencewas mixed across age groups, with the 65-years-and-over group finding the application processpoorest.173