Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
163 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether a patient who has been referred by their dentist to the dental hospital in a case in which the dentist deems it necessary for the person to receive specialist intervention, sometimes urgently, should have the facility to be treated in an accident and emergency clinic at the dental hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29081/04]
View answerResponsibility for the provision of dental services to eligible persons is a matter for the health boards or authority in the first instance. The Eastern Regional Health Authority has raised the matter with the Dublin Dental Hospital and is advised that the accident and emergency department in the Dublin Dental Hospital operates on a triage basis. This year to the end of September 2004, 15,409 patients have been seen by accident and emergency staff, of which 11,626 have received treatment. The remaining patients were referred to their own general dental practitioner. The dental hospital has emphasised that its accident and emergency service is for the treatment of pain relief, serious infection, visible swelling in and around the mouth, injuries — as a result of trauma or accident — bleeding or haemorrhage.
The authority is further advised that where a dentist feels a specialist referral is necessary and urgent, he or she is best advised to both telephone the appropriate specialist or consultant in the dental hospital, discuss the case and forward a letter outlining the particulars with the patient to the hospital. Such cases will be addressed by the appropriate consultant on the basis of need and urgency. The Dublin Dental Hospital points out that it cannot accept specialist referrals to its accident and emergency service as that department can only accommodate pain relief, serious infection, visible swelling in and around the mouth, injuries — as a result of trauma or accident — bleeding or haemorrhage.
The authority understands that urgent specialist referrals in oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral surgery, oral medicine, paediatric dentistry, etc., will be addressed by consultants in these areas separately to the accident and emergency service within the dental hospital. The Deputy should be aware that the authority regularly meets with the Dublin Dental Hospital to discuss issues such as the operation of its accident and emergency service and other services.
