Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley says that the information released this week by the Irish Dental Association (IDA) ‘clearly shows the extent of the problem with waiting lists in Laois’.
The IDA says that the outsourcing of Child Dental care to an ‘overstretched and understaffed’ private dental system is not the answer.
The number of public dentists has dropped by a quarter in 15 years from 330 to 254 in the State.
According to the Laois TD, the situation regarding the school dental scheme in Laois has ‘now reached crisis levels’.
He said: “A reply to a Parliamentary Question I received highlights the crisis situation regarding school dental scheme across the County.
“There are a total of 7397 teenagers on the waiting list to see a primary school Dentist. These young people have not seen a school Dentist or even received an examination under the School Dental Scheme.
“Under this scheme children are meant to be seen in 2nd and 4th class in primary school, and this has been the practice going back over a number of decades.
“However, all those within the category mentioned above are in secondary school. Some of these teenagers are about to enter their final year in secondary school.
“I have been raising this dire situation in Laois on a regular basis with the HSE and successive Health Ministers, including Leo Varadkar when he was Health Minister.
“The HSE have increased the number of Dentists dedicated to the Laois School Dental Scheme from 1.2 to 3.2 whole time equivalent (equivalent to 3 full time positions and a 4th person working 1 day per week).
“The HSE have had 2 recruitment campaigns in the last 9 months, the most recent being 3 weeks ago to try and fill these positions. However, they inform me these have been mainly unsuccessful in attracting suitable qualified candidates.
“It is clear we need to train and recruit more people for positions as Dental Surgeons and currently this is not happening in sufficient numbers.
“The only way the chronic shortage in Dental Clinicians to work within these public schemes can be addressed on a long term basic, is through proper workforce planning. Clearly this has not been happening over the past 10 to 15 years.
“It is time for the Government and the Department of Health to get it’s act together.”
SEE ALSO – Portlaoise man recently appointed as Commissioner for Oaths
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