Health Services

Health Services:

If you seek asylum, or are a beneficiary of temporary protection in Ireland, you can apply for a medical card. The medical card gives you and your family access to medical services free of charge. If you do not apply for and receive a medical card, you will be asked to pay for certain medical services.

To apply a medical card you must have a PPSN for each person who is applying. You can apply online for a medical card and GP visit card on Medical Card Online. This is the quickest method of getting the card.

Alternatively you can apply for a medical by posting the MC1 application form.

Medical Card Online

Doctors

General Practitioners (GPs)

General practitioners (GPs) are family doctors. They treat all common medical conditions. A GP is usually the first doctor you will see about non-emergency illnesses and health issues. They refer people to hospitals and medical services for urgent and specialist treatment.

To find a GP please visit  Irish College of General Practitioners.

If you can’t get a GP to accept you on their patient list, try another GP in your area. Contact the HSE if 3 GPs have declined to accept you on to their patient list and the HSE will assign you a GP

Care Doc is an Urgent Out of Hours GP service for patients who cannot safely wait to see their own GP. Care Doc operates strictly by appointment only and is not a walk-in service. Phone  on LoCall number (0818) 300 365 or 059 913 8100 for medical assistance.

Care Doc is not an Emergency Service. Patients who require emergency medical attention should attend their nearest Emergency Department (ED) or phone 999 or 112.

Hospitals

St Luke's General Hospital Carlow Kilkenny (R95 FY71)

An Emergency Department (ED) deals with serious injuries, unexpected and life-threatening emergencies. Phone 112 or 999 if you need urgent medical help or don’t know what to do.

For more information on various health services and entitlements see link: About the Irish Health System - a guide for refugees and other migrants