asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that medical card holders in the Dublin area have often to wait 12 months for a set of dentures; and, if so, if he is taking steps to rectify this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Dentures.
39.
I am informed that, at present, no patient in the Dublin area has to wait 12 months for dentures. Priority cases can get immediate treatment in the Dublin Health Authority's clinics and, in less urgent cases, the waiting period is much less than that suggested by the Deputy.
The waiting period is kept under constant review by the health authority with a view to effecting such further improvements as are possible.
Can the Minister tell the House where he got the information that no patient has to wait that time because it was at the last meeting of Dublin Health Authority only that we got this information? I am wondering where the Minister got his information.
I suppose from the same source.
Can the Minister say if that delay is there which I believe to be there, and can the Minister say why it is there and what can be done about it?
My information is that there is no delay in regard to children, expectant mothers, mothers attending child welfare clinics, and TB patients. There is no delay in Skerries. The average waiting period for full dentures is less than nine months and for patients requiring partial dentures, the delay is only three or four months.
Can the Minister say whether children were taken into account in arriving at that average? Our information is that children get a very expeditious service but that adults have to wait in many cases for 12 months, and in some cases the delay is so great that they are dead before they get the card.
My information is that no patient, adult or otherwise, has to wait longer than nine months.
That is a long time to wait.