asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied in regard to the availability of a dental service for medical card holders.
Written Answers. - Dental Service Availability.
745.
Dental services for medical card holders are provided by the health boards in two ways as follows: (1) At dental surgeries run by the dental staff of the health boards. Those catered for are mainly the aged, the handicapped, nursing and expectant mothers and eligible adolescents, i.e. those who are between the ages of 12 and 16 years and are dependants of medical card holders; (2) By dentists in private practice under the ad hoc arrangement whereby they provide dental services for medical card holders on behalf of the health boards. Those who receive treatment from the dentists in private practice are generally adults other than those treated by the health boards' own dental staff.
Due to the limited financial resources available to them this year some health boards found they were not in a position to provide as much money as they would wish for the ad hoc scheme. In some cases a priority basis for the issue of authorisation for treatment was introduced. Where a priority system is in operation persons who are not in the priority groups may experience delays in obtaining treatment. However, services for the relief of pain are an absolute priority for all eligible persons.
I am satisfied with the level of the dental service available to medical card holders having regard to the present shortage of finance for the health services generally.