Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 April 2023
20. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on any progress he has made in returning dentists to the DTSS; the total number of dentists in the system in 2020 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19034/23]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme provides care to adult medical holders over 16 years. In April 2020 there were 1651 DTSS contractors registered on the Scheme. This declined to 1253 in April 2022. I approved measures from May 2022 providing for increased preventative care and increasing the fees paid to dentists for most treatment items by 40-60%. This has improved access, and both the numbers of patients and treatments have increased since May.
However, medical card holders in some areas continue to have difficulty accessing care. Therefore, I have allocated €5 million this year to support the HSE Public Dental Service to provide emergency care to adult medical card holders who are having difficulty accessing a local dentist. This funding is part of an additional €15m to improve oral healthcare services this year, which will also help to address waiting lists.
Fundamentally the scheme needs to be modernised and so I have funded the appointment of clinical leadership and reform leadership roles to progress this review of the scheme aligned with the National Oral Health Policy; Smile agus Sláinte.
There are people with medical cards throughout the country who could and should be treated under the DTSS. I am asking dentists to work with me on the basis of the very significant fee increase I have already given and provide care for their DTSS patients, recognising that we are committed to moving towards a more modern service.
