Independent Louth TD Peter Fitzpatrick has raised serious concerns about the lack of dental services in Louth, highlighting the detrimental impact on local children.
During a session in the Dáil yesterday, Deputy Fitzpatrick expressed frustration over the frequency with which residents are forced to seek dental treatment in Newry or abroad due to the prohibitive costs and limited availability locally. He recounted a specific case involving a young girl who received braces through the HSE two years ago. Her orthodontist resigned in February, resulting in a four-month gap in her care, leaving her to manage her braces alone.
The girl’s mother inquired about the situation and was informed that there are no immediate plans to replace the orthodontist in Louth. Even if a replacement were appointed immediately, it would be at least six months before her daughter could be seen again.
“At best, this child would be seen at the end of the year. Going private is not an option, as private orthodontists are either too busy or not taking referrals. This is one of many stories I have heard concerning children,” Deputy Fitzpatrick stated.
He also mentioned numerous complaints from constituents who have been denied dental care due to their medical card status. Adults awaiting oral surgery and children on the paediatric special care list are experiencing prolonged delays for essential treatment.
“Some children who should have been seen by HSE dental care services three times before the age of 12 years are only being seen by dentists for the first time when they are well into secondary school. To put it in context, children are not being seen for the first of their three dental checks until they are 15 or 16 years of age. In parts of the country, there is a backlog of almost ten years in accessing the HSE’s school dental screening services,” he explained.
Deputy Fitzpatrick emphasized that the collapse of the dental treatment services scheme is leading to more common oral diseases, which share risk factors with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Although the Minister for Health approved measures to expand dental care services for medical card holders in April 2022, the Irish Dental Association has indicated that many dentists have left the scheme, deeming it ineffective. The number of dentists providing treatment to medical card holders has significantly decreased.
Deputy Fitzpatrick urged the Minister for Health and the HSE to engage with providers and their representative bodies to establish a robust plan and allocate necessary resources to ensure timely and effective access to dental treatment for residents of Louth and east Meath.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Helen McEntee highlighted that over €200 million is allocated annually for oral healthcare, with significant improvements reported in recent years. She noted that in the past year, over 154,000 additional treatments and 26,700 extra patients were served under the dental treatment services scheme. Preventative care elements were reintroduced in 2022.
She assured that efforts are ongoing to address backlogs and improve service availability. “The Minister has increased the fees for most treatments by between 40% and 60%, aligning them with other European countries. Despite the challenges in Louth, particularly with orthodontic care, the HSE is seeking other orthodontists within the CHO 8 area to take on patients and reduce waiting lists. Full-time positions are being pursued, alongside other recruitment methods,” Minister McEntee stated.
Deputy Fitzpatrick urged collaboration between the Minister for Health and the HSE to expedite the recruitment of an orthodontist in Louth and ensure sufficient funding for dental and aftercare services for children and medical card holders.
Minister McEntee affirmed the government’s commitment to addressing these issues, noting that an implementation plan for 2024 to 2026 is being drafted by the Department of Health and the HSE, with public consultation and publication expected in the third quarter of this year. Further budgetary measures are anticipated to support these efforts.
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