THE Government was on the receiving end of a fierce backlash today after its Budget medical card fiasco.

Up to 90,000 pensioners are set to have their cards snatched from them after the Finance Minister announced means testing the over-70s.

The move was described as an “assault” on the elderly. Doctors have warned that the move will see an increase in serious health problems as the elderly put off seeking help.

Some Fianna Fail TDs are also worried about selling the cuts in their constituencies.

The Greens are also likely to take a serious hit in their core middle-class vote over the punitive slashing.

“The over-70s move is the one that will cost us most. Pensioners are worried, their sons and daughters are

angry over it and it comes across as insensitive,” one FF backbencher said today. “This will cost us.”

Fine Gael were also highlighting the OAP cuts.

“This assault on the over-70s will mean serious anxiety for all elderly people who have already seen the value of their pensions wiped out and still have no solution to their long term care problems,” said Dr James Reilly of Fine Gael.

The opposition health spokesman said that “older people may not be able to visit their GP when they should and it will mean families trying to balance the household budget to afford medicine”.

Tens of thousands of elderly people will also be faced with the prospect of the hiked-up €100 charge for visiting an accident and emergency unit.

Health Minister Mary Harney, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and Taoiseach Brian Cowen were all being criticised today for grabbing back medical cards from people who had previously been automatically entitled to them.

Ms Harney claimed today that only a small number of the over 70s would be affected by the move.

“Choices had to be made in health,” she said. “It will only be five or six people in every hundred that are affected.”

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament demanded that the politicians immediately re-consider the draconian measure.

Existing medical cards will expire at the end of the year and the nation’s elderly will be written to in the coming days to tell them they must re-apply and submit to a means test.

Age Action Ireland warned the decision will hurt old people and worsen health problems.

The move “flies in the face of the current push towards community care and the drive to keep older people out of hospitals in nursing homes,” said spokesman Eamon Timmins.

Around 350,000 elderly people currently have medical cards. Health Minister Mary Harney conceded that a large number would not pass the means test to qualify in future.

- Alan O’Keeffe