asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there is no dental or ophthalmic service for adults who are GMS card holders in many community care areas and the plans he has to sure that such a service will be provided.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental and Ophthalmic Services.
51.
I am aware that the ad hoc dental scheme and the sight testing scheme have been suspended by health boards in a number of community care areas. However, in those areas where the schemes are suspended dental and optical services for eligible adults are still provided through the health boards' own dental and community ophthalmic services. Due to increased demands on these services arising from the suspension of the ad hoc schemes waiting lists have developed and the health boards have found it necessary to give priority to certain categories of patient.
Those normally afforded priority are —in the case of dental services — persons requiring treatment for the relief of pain, the handicapped, the elderly and nursing and expectant mothers and — in the case of optical services — those with a medical condition and the handicapped and the elderly. The health boards will review the position in relation to the operation of the ad hoc scheme in the light of their financial allocations for 1985. The allocation of funds between the different services they provide is a matter for the individual health board.
My question referred to the dental services. The Minister says that the ad hoc dental service is not being provided in community care areas but he must accept that there is no dental service for any adult in a number of community care areas, including the one I work in, except in respect of the occasional patient who is awaiting operation. The poorest people are paying the equivalent of two to three weeks supplementary welfare in order to provide a dental service for themselves. The Minister must be aware of that. Is this not one area where the health boards have a statutory obligation but an obligation they are not fulfilling because they do not have the funds to do so?
The information I have is that the ad hoc scheme continues to operate in County Cavan and County Monaghan.
Louth is the community care area I work in.
This scheme has not continued to operate in parts of Louth and Meath.
It may have operated earlier in the year but there is no service there now.
I have just received the report in relation to the North Eastern Health Board. Where schemes are suspended, adult patients are using the health board dental service and the community ophthalmic service. In those areas a priority scheme is in operation. We have had various reports from the different health boards. I have a lengthy note on that but I shall not read it as I do not wish to intrude on the time for these priority questions.
During these 15 minutes Deputies are wasting their own time by prolonging their supplementaries but, at the same time, if we allow bad example to develop in respect of the priority questions, that bad example could spread all over the place.