Irish dentists angered by budget cuts
A huge decrease in state funding will have serious implications for patients, according to representatives from the Irish Dental Association.
The budget cuts will affect patients that use the medical card dental scheme, which is designed to offer reduced rate dental care. In 2009 the state offered 86 million Euros for the medical card scheme; however, this year, just 64 million Euros has been given to the programme.
The cuts have angered dentists, who say that cost-cutting measures will mean patients are receiving sub-standard care and dentists are using old fashioned treatments rather than modern methods which are often more effective and less painful.
As a result of the smaller budget, dentists have warned patients that they may now face having teeth pulled out, rather than having them restored using fillings; for many patients this will not be a welcome change. Dentists have been told that fillings and root canal treatment should only be used in emergency situations and must be approved by authorities before the dentist carries out the treatment; this could take several weeks, which dentists say is simply unacceptable.
Chief executive of the Irish Dental Association, Mr Fintan Hourihan, said the changes in state funding would leave thousands of patients at a disadvantage and explained that dentists felt they were being compromised and put in a difficult position as a result of the budget cuts. Dentists are trained to offer the best possible standards of care to patients that come to see them, yet they are now being forced to use treatments which may not be suitable for their patients. Mr Hourihan said the cuts had enforced a system of rationing on the country, which was archaic and unacceptable.
The Irish Dental Association has urged the Health Service Executive to reconsider the dramatic cuts in funding; however, the HSE has stressed that there is no more money available and dentists would have to make the best of the budget they receive. Dentists are expecting numerous complaints from medical card patients and will advise patients to take these to the authorities.
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