Dentists’ appeal is upheld by the Irish Supreme Court
Two Irish dentists, who challenged the Health Service Executive on the grounds of changes to public dentistry, have had their appeal upheld by the Irish Supreme Court.
Dr Martin Reid and Dr James Turner opened a legal case against the HSE after they announced plans to cut the budget for public dental care by changing the medical card system. The dentists have the full support of the Irish Dental Association, who slammed the proposals after they were announced. The HSE changed the system so that those with medical cards could not received reduced rate care, despite the fact that they were still paying the same amount to the state. At the time, the IDA said that the planned changes could have devastating effects on standards of oral health amongst Irish residents with medical cards.
Last Friday, the dentists’ case was upheld by the Supreme Court, meaning that the injunction against the HSE was restored. The injunction has the power to stop the HSE from prohibiting medical card patients from receiving free dental care.
The case is set to continue and dentists are hoping that the injunction will encourage the Health Service Executive to reconsider their plans and find new ways to finance dental care for those with medical cards.
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