Oral health care

The Department of Health has confirmed that the planned national oral health policy for Ireland will take into account the recently launched Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.

A spokesperson said: “The national approach to future oral health service provision will be informed by the National Oral Health Policy, which is being finalised and which is expected to be published later this year.

“The aim of the policy is to develop a model of care that will enable preventative approaches to be prioritised, improve access, and support interventions appropriate to current and future oral health needs. In developing the policy, cognisance has been taken of current Department of Health and broader government policies including the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.”

The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy, which was announced in August, is the Government’s plan for delivering “a sustainable and equitable health and social care service over the next ten years”.

Services will be redesigned so that care is delivered based on population need and size. In the future, the majority of care will be delivered in the community.

The redesign will build on existing policy and work that is underway including the development of primary care teams, Community Healthcare Networks (CHN) and Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs).

It will also build on implementation of Working Together for Health – A National Strategic Framework for Health and Social Care Workforce Planning.

Notably, the spokesperson also said that changes in the way care is delivered will affect the health workforce, including dentists. The precise implications of this have yet to emerge.

The Strategy outlines actions to be taken in the next three years including:

• Development of a citizen care masterplan for the health service
• Actions to make sure the health workforce is supported to enable reform.