Dental problems ‘are being masked’

CHILDREN with severe dental problems are being removed from waiting lists to camouflage the extent of the problem, according to the head of dental services in the Mid-Western Health Board (MWHB).

There are currently more than 20,000 children awaiting either assessment or treatment.

In a hard-hitting letter to members of the MWHB, consultant orthodontist Ted McNamara also accused the Department of Health and private consultants of colluding to scupper regional public services.

“Since 1999, this cynical approach has been the primary method of reducing waiting lists. In many boards, including our own, some dentists consider it to be in the patient’s best interest not to wait for our service and accordingly advise parents to go privately. It camouflages the extent of the problem.”

Mr McNamara and the head of public orthodontist services in the Southern Health Board, Ian O’Dowling, have been engaged in a turf war with the department since a change in the training of dentists to orthodontist level in 1999. Up until then, consultant orthodontists had supervised dentists to carry out orthodontic work within the public service. However, this practice ended following an inspection of training and training facilities.

Both Mr McNamara and Mr O’Dowling believe a regional training programme, which would allow them to train dentists to orthodontic level, is the only way of tackling public waiting lists, where more than 20,000 children are currently awaiting either assessment or treatment.

In his letter, Mr McNamara said they were constantly dealing with children ‘who are in need of orthodontic treatment but who are unlikely ever to get this treatment.’

“The fact that the blockage is unnecessary and sometimes mischievous creates in me and my staff emotions of frustration, anger and despair.

“There has been collusion between the Dental Schools and the private orthodontists who worked together to undermine regional public services. The Department of Health is aware of the situation but has chosen to support those opposed to the development of regional public services.”

Mr McNamara said 14 years of training dentists within the public services “was ended because of support by the Department of Health and those people who stood to gain if services were sabotaged.”

Mr McNamara has called for a ‘genuine review’ of services.

Fianna Fail TD Batt O’Keeffe, who is chairing an Oireachtas health committee investigation into the long-running dental dispute, said the claims in the letter will be discussed at a meeting of the committee next Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said they completely disagreed with the views put forward by Mr McNamara.