Positive pledges
The Irish Government has finally committed to improving the nation’s oral health, but it must still be held to account
The Programme for Government published by Ireland’s coalition government contains a range of measures that will support an improvement in the nation’s oral health and overall health. The programme details several positive pledges for oral health, including a promise to recruit additional public dentists and increase the number of college places in dentistry.
It also contains the implementation of Smile agus Sláinte, its oral health policy announced five years ago, as a priority. Expanding access to the orthodontic scheme for children and strengthening the School Dental Programme, as outlined in the Programme for Government, will support this objective.
The Government should now also consider establishing prevention programmes for adults, focusing on non-communicable oral diseases, such as mouth cancer, to ensure a high quality of life for all. A developed public dental service is central to universal healthcare delivery.
The challenge is that the number of dentists in public services has dropped by 23% over the past 15 years, putting an enormous strain on existing services, adding to the burden of existing staff and leading to long waiting lists.
The Dentists Act 1985 is outdated and not fit for purpose, and the Government’s pledge to update the Act is to be welcomed. There must also be legislation for the mandatory licensing and inspection of dental practices as the absence of such protocols opens the door to illicit services which may harm the general public.
The Act has also led to dentistry becoming out-of-step with all other regulated healthcare professions in not having a statutory continuous professional development (CPD) scheme. This would reflect the ongoing commitment of the profession to raising standards of dental care and ensuring that dental professionals remain up to date with the latest advances in oral healthcare, techniques and patient safety.
“The challenge is that the number of dentists in public services has dropped by 23% over the past 15 years, putting an enormous strain on existing services”
The recognition and regulation of additional dental specialities as outlined by the Government is also long overdue and would bring Ireland in to line with international standards. Its pledge to include a new Dental Treatment Service Scheme for Medical Card Holders is welcome and will be vital in the effort to enhance Ireland’s oral health.
The Irish Dental Association has rightly pledged to continue its advocacy in the year ahead “pursuing constructive, policy-led engagement” with the new Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Ireland’s new coalition Government must be held to the promises outlined in its programme.
It envisions a society where oral healthcare is accessible, affordable, effective and of a high international standard and remains committed to representing its membership and reflecting the patient experience. If Government is held to account in a constructive manner, it can deliver the changes that are necessary to realise a brighter future in oral health, maximising the input of public finances into the system to achieve better outcomes, which will improve the overall health and wellbeing of Irish society.
About the Editor
Will Peakin is Editor of Ireland‘s Dental magazine and irelandsdentalmag.ie, contact him by email on: editor@irelandsdentalmag.ie
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Tags: Agus, Government, health, oral, Sláinte
