Jordan Egan: her petition secured 1,300 signatures at the National Ploughing Championships
Pic: Michael O’Rourke

A TEENAGER with a debilitating medical condition is calling on the government to change its policy towards overseas medical care.

Sixteen-year-old Jordan Egan from Rathcrogue suffers from ehlers-danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, which causes her considerable pain.

The PresentationCollege student has to regularly travel to England for medical treatment which is unavailable in Ireland. And the cost of this treatment is left to Jordan’s parents to bear, thanks to current legislation.

“This isn’t just about Jordan,” explained her mum Karen.

“She wants to bring this to people’s attention. There are a lot of people in the same situation. For Jordan there is no specialist here and they will find every loophole not to cover it (the cost). She wants the government to amend its policy on funding treatment abroad.”

During the week, the Egan family and several friends set up stall at the National Ploughing Championship in Laois to gather signatures for Jordan’s petition: ‘treatment abroad for EDS and rare conditions’.

According to Jordan, funding for treatment abroad for Irish citizens with rare conditions is frequently refused, despite no availability of appropriate specialist care in Ireland. The young woman is also calling on the government to consider establishing a specialist hypermobility unit in Ireland.

“This is Jordan’s petition and there has been loads of goodwill from people,” added Karen, who is so proud of her daughter’s determination.

During the National Ploughing Championships, the group managed to get 1,300 signatures on the petition, while an online version has so far garnered a further 550, and growing.

“Jordan is absolutely delighted with the response and she’s very exciting about actioning a change. If something positive could come out of a negative, it would be brilliant.”

Anyone interested in signing Jordan’s petition can go to www.gopetition.com/petitions/treatment-abroad-for-eds-and-rare-conditions.html.