Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
641. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health for an update on the situation around the dental treatment services scheme, including a list in tabular form, of the number of dentists working under the scheme in each county in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20879/24]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as dentures, additional fillings and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients, are available subject to the approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon.
To support practitioners to provide care under the Scheme, I approved a range of measures that were put in place on 1 May 2022 to introduce and reintroduce elements of preventative care and increase the fees paid to dental contractors for most treatment items by 40-60%. In 2023, 154,864 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, with over 26,700 extra patients treated when compared with 2022.
In the longer term, the Government is committed to reforming dental services, including the DTSS, through the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP), Smile agus Sláinte. An implementation plan for the 2024-2026 phase of roll-out is being drafted by my Department and the HSE. The HSE's Strategic Reform Lead is driving policy implementation across the organisation and developing new services. The HSE's National Service Plan (NSP) for 2024 captures a range of priorities that are essential prerequisites to a new contract for care for adult medical card holders:
- Development of a comprehensive phased policy implementation plan for the range of actions identified in the policy, including stakeholder engagement and resource identification; and
- The design of clinical elements for reformed preventative care for adult medical cardholders as referenced in the policy.
(Progression of oral healthcare packages for children aged from birth to seven years of age is also an NSP priority for 2024.)
The National Oral Health Policy also contains a range of strategic workforce planning actions to increase workforce capacity, in support of improving patient's access to care. To support this work, my Department is currently finalising a workforce census for oral healthcare.
I have asked the HSE to forward the requested data on the number of dentists working under the DTSS scheme in each county in the State to the Deputy as soon as possible.
