Irish wheelchair user to address WHO event on accessibility of dental surgeries

Carolyn Akintola: 'It’s certainly not unusual not to be able to physically access the surgery.' File picture: Moya Nolan

Dental clinics in Ireland often lack lifts or ramps, a disability advocate has said, as the World Health Organization (WHO) launches a new oral health policy for people with disabilities.

Carolyn Akintola uses a wheelchair. She said: “I called a surgery to see if they were wheelchair-accessible. I turn up and checked in at reception, and the receptionist said the dentist will see you upstairs in a minute,” she recalled.

However, there was no lift, so only the front desk was accessible.

“A lot of [dental surgeries] are operated out of former houses, and that’s a big issue,” she said.

“A lot of the newer ones, particularly the chains, tend to be accessible but it’s certainly not unusual not to be able to physically access the surgery.”

Ms Akintola was speaking ahead of the WHO launch for its new international oral health policy initiative for people with disabilities.

This policy highlights inaccessible facilities as a key issue, along with stigma and staff lacking the appropriate training.

Three Irish experts contributed to the policy brief, including Finbarr Allen at University College Cork.

It calls for disability equality to be at the heart of health sector actions.

Ms Akintola will speak at the launch on Tuesday at Dublin Dental University Hospital. This is part of the International Association for Disability and Oral Health conference.

• Niamh Griffin, Health Correspondent