Government needs to address crisis in public dentistry as a priority – John Brady TD
Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has revealed that information provided to him by Frances O’Callaghan, the Chief Dental Surgeon, reveals that the number of dental practices in the East Wicklow area who are currently signed up to the dental treatment services scheme (DTSS) now stands at a mere nine. He described public dentistry as being in a state of crisis and called on the government to make it a priority.
Brady said:
“Despite the fact that I have called repeatedly for this issue to be addressed here in Wicklow, it appears that my appeals are falling on deaf ears.
There are three government TDs in Wicklow. Including the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health. Yet they are content to completely ignore the running down of the DTSS.
Such is the government’s indifference on the issue, the question needs to be asked as to whether they are intent on running down the service, and forcing a private dental system on patients, many of whom would be denied access to dental services due to the prohibitive cost of such measures.
The Irish Dental Association is on record as saying that the current DTSS does not allow them to provide the level of service that their patients need.
According to reports there are now at least 252 fewer dentists signed up to the scheme that there was last year. This is a trend which we can anticipate will continue, as the government continues to ignore the problem.
Across Wicklow patients are struggling to get appointments, are being forced to travel further, or are forced to postpone visits to dentists.
Under the current rules that govern the DTSS, patients are allowed a limited level of treatment to save teeth, but the scheme allows for an unlimited number of tooth extractions.
These rules are preventing dentists from offering the level of treatment which they want to, and their patients need.
This is completely unacceptable. It places unnecessary and undue hardship on the most vulnerable in our society.
There are many families and workers who are being forced into debt to ensure that they and their families receive the dental treatment they need privately, more often than not at enormous cost.
Regular dental care is also important in the identification and diagnosis of mouth cancers. If patients are unable to afford to attend dentists as a result of the government’s failure, this could also lead to life threatening health issues arising and being left untreated.
Simon Harris and Stephen Donnelly cannot be allowed to continue to ignore this situation. Not only as it impacts on Wicklow, but it is a statewide issue that is now at crisis level.
The government needs to act immediately to address this issue, particularly at a time when they are leaking left right and centre about how they are going to spend billions in order to buy the next election. They need to prioritise the needs of people above their own ambitions.” ENDs