Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1750. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to implement the motion approved by Dáil Éireann on dental services on 19 January 2023; the steps being taken to ensure that medical card patients have access to a dental service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38362/23]
View answerThere are challenges in the provision of dental services and I am aware that patients of all ages have been waiting longer than they should have to, to access care. I am committed to fundamentally reforming dental services through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte. I have allocated an additional €21 million across Budget 2023 and Waiting List Action Plan 2023 to enable reforms to progress implementation and to deal with immediate difficulties patients are experiencing in accessing oral healthcare services.
From this additional allocation for 2023, €5 million is being invested to address backlogs in the HSE Public Dental Service which provides services to children. It is also supporting the HSE to provide emergency care for adult medical card holders who are having difficulty accessing a local dentist under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS). The HSE have used this funding to increase capacity, in some cases establishing additional clinics and providing services outside normal hours.
The number of patients seen and treatments provided in the DTSS have increased since May 2022 when the Scheme was extended to include Scale and Polish for all medical card patients along with an expansion of the oral examination to include provision of preventative advice. From January to July this year, 131,626 additional treatments have been provided under the Scheme, with over 24,500 extra unique patients treated when compared with the same period last year.
Orthodontic patients are also benefitting from the additional investment. A private procurement initiative, which received a considerable funding uplift of €8.65m in 2023 across Budget 2023 and the Waiting List Action Plan, is progressing well with 1,541 patients of a full year projection of 2,288 patients transferred into private care between 1 January and 4 August 2023.
For orthodontic patients who require surgical input, the HSE is developing a model of care for oral and maxillofacial surgery through the National Clinical Programme for Surgery. €1.35m has been allocated in Budget 2023 to allow surgery to be procured for 45 patients waiting over 4 years for jaw surgery, which requires a lengthy hospital stay. The HSE is finalising the arrangements for this initiative to commence.
Policy implementation will continue to prioritise access issues and investment of €4.75 million of the additional Budget allocation is providing for the development of prevention-focused oral healthcare for children aged from 0-7 years.
Workforce planning is an essential component of the National Oral Health Policy. Additional resources have been allocated to commence this work which will include a census approach across the oral healthcare profession and also reviewing direct access and scope of practice for dental auxiliaries.
My Department is currently supporting the HSE to put clinical leadership and policy implementation leadership in place to drive necessary reform.
