Lack of Louth dental services impacting local children

Independent Louth TD Peter Fitzpatrick has hit out at the lack of available dental services in Louth saying that it is having a detrimental effect on local children.

Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Fitzpatrick said that he had lost count of the number of times he has heard of people going to Newry in the North or even abroad for dental treatment due to the cost and lack of availability.

He detailed the case of one of his constituents whose daughter got braces two years ago publicly through the HSE. 

The orthodontist who was providing her with dental care quit in February and the child has gone from being seen every seven weeks to not being seen for the past four months, forcing her to look after her braces herself. 

The mother inquired about the situation last week and was told there was nothing in the pipeline as regards interviews or potential replacements for the orthodontist in Louth, and even if one were appointed today, her daughter would not be seen for more than six months, according to Deputy Fitzpatrick.

“At best, this child would be seen at the end of the year. Going private is not an option, as private orthodontists are either too busy or not taking referrals. This is one of many stories I have heard concerning children,” he said.

He further said that he had been contacted by numerous concerned constituents who have been refused dental care at their regular practices due to their medical card status. 

“Constituents who are on the adult oral surgery list or who have a child on the paediatric special care waiting list have also come to my clinic, having waited an extraordinary length of time for their essential medical treatment. 

“Some children who should have been seen by HSE dental care services three times before the age of 12 years are only being seen by dentists for the first time when they are well into secondary school. 

“To put it in context, children are not being seen for the first of their three dental checks until they are 15 or 16 years of age. In parts of the country, there is a backlog of almost ten years in accessing the HSE’s school dental screening services.

“Due to the effective collapse of the dental treatment services scheme, oral diseases are becoming more common. As they share common risk factors with chronic diseases like heart disease, obesity and diabetes, this highlights the potential dangers to which delayed dental care can lead.”

He went on to explain that although the Minister for Health approved new measures to provide expanded dental care services for medical card holders under the dental treatment scheme in April 2022, the Irish Dental Association has stated that many dentists have withdrawn from the scheme and that it is not fit for purpose, meaning that access to dental care is scarce despite having a medical card. The number of dentists providing treatment to medical card holders has more than halved.

He urged the Minister for Health and the HSE to urgently engage the providers and their representative bodies on putting an effective plan and resources in place, “to ensure that the people of Louth and east Meath have timely and effective access to essential dental treatment.”

Addressing the concerns raised by the Louth TD, Helen McEntee said that the area has received significant investment in recent years, with more than €200 million allocated every year for oral healthcare. 

She claimed that last year, more than 154,000 additional treatments were provided under the dental treatment services scheme, with over 26,700 extra patients, compared with the year prior and that in 2022, the dental treatment services scheme was enhanced to reintroduce elements of preventative care.

She further stated that the Minister for Health is working to ensure that we can address any further backlogs as they arise.

“Regarding the current scheme, the Minister has increased the fees that are paid to contractors for most treatments by between 40% and 60%. They are now aligned with other European countries. Many countries, especially in Europe’s southern and eastern regions, do not have such a scheme, particularly for adults, that is free at point of access.

“There are particular challenges in Louth, especially as regards orthodontic care. Work is being done to try to address those challenges. Where orthodontist positions have not been filled locally, the HSE is seeking other orthodontists within the CHO 8 area to take on patients where there is space within their practices. 

“This has had a positive impact on reducing the waiting lists. There are full-time positions being sought, but other methods of recruitment are also underway, which will take a little longer. Every effort is being made to try to address what is probably one of the greatest challenges in Louth in terms of orthodontic care for young people and adults.”

In reply Deputy Fitzpatrick asked the Minister to liaise with the Minister for Health to ensure the recruitment of an orthodontist in Louth as soon as possible while also ensuring adequate access to and funding of dental and aftercare services for children and medical card holders. 

Minister McEntee said that the government was investing to tackle waiting lists and improve capacity, adding:

“The Minister is working on an implementation plan for 2024 to 2026. It is being drafted by the Department of Health with the HSE and will be open for consultation and publication in quarter 3 of this year. Once it is published, I assume it will be supported by further budgetary measures to try to address backlogs and fill critical positions.”