Dentists vote no confidence in Donnelly amid frustration over 'crumbling' system 

More than half of patients are being forced to wait longer than three months for specialist care.

The Irish Dental Association (IDA) has issued a vote of no confidence in Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.

The association say this is due to the direct result of ongoing recruitment issues and a capacity crisis across the sector.

A survey of the IDA members was undertaken ahead of their annual conference which takes place in Kilkenny this weekend.

Among the findings were:

• One in six patients are waiting over three months for an elective appointment, while more than half of patients are being forced to wait longer than 3 months for specialist care 
• More than 50% of dentists surveyed have tried to hire a dentist in the past 12 months with almost 60% of those unable to find a suitable candidate
• 80% of IDA members who currently hold a DTSS contract say they are no longer able to take on or see new medical card patients 
• 93% of dentists say that they would not sign up to the medical card contract in its current form during any talks on a new scheme
• Four out of five dentists have said they do not have the capacity to take on any new patients, including children.

Dr Will Rhymer, a practicing dentist and chair of the general practice of committee of the IDA said there have been "huge delays" in screening children, which has led to some children not being seen until the age of 16. 

"Children are supposed to be screened in second class, fourth class and sixth class. They are key development stages. Unfortunately, due to the situation that has been allowed arise within the HSE regarding funding and resourcing, we're now seeing huge delays in that kind of contract," he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Friday. 

"So in areas of the country, some children aren't being seen until they're age 16. International best practice would be to see that child before their first birthdays, so you can imagine what sort of problems might be presenting by the time we'll finally get to see them."

"What we're generally seeing is a huge upturn in the number of neglected mouths. So we're seeing increased levels of decay, increased levels of restoration needs, orthodontic treatment that's gone unmanaged. 

"These are children, which are problems, which if children present regularly enough they can be intercepted and we can do much more minor types of treatments to keep it under control."

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD. Picture: Stephen Collins /Collins Photos Dublin

The president of the association Eamon Croke described the results as "stark."

He explained: "The resounding response from our members substantiate our concerns surrounding the ongoing issues facing the sector, which are acting as significant barriers to patients who require access to adequate and efficient oral healthcare.

"Our membership is beyond frustrated at the endless broken promises and false dawns by the Minister and his Department. The recent vote of no confidence in the Minister by dentists shows how broken their trust is in a system and service that has no capacity or seen any meaningful commitment to reform."

The Minister himself said this week that the state has had a ‘blind spot’ when it comes to dentistry and oral health. 

Mr Croke questioned what needs to happen for dental health to be "recognised as an integral part of general health."

He added: "Sadly, without the political willingness, patients – particular children and those most vulnerable – will continue to shoulder the burden of a system crumbling under decades of inaction and neglect."