Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy White, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Minister of State, Deputy White, became aware through recent media reports that a dentist employed by the HSE at the orthodontic unit in Merlin Park hospital has admitted giving braces that had been removed from children at the unit to a private dental practitioner. I am very constrained in what I can say at present on the case. I understand that the HSE became aware of this matter in 2009. It was investigated at the time and the practice of removing braces from the unit ceased. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy White, has asked the HSE to advise him if there are any outstanding issues that may need to be addressed concerning the possible re-use of the braces. Deputy Naughten will appreciate that the HSE is not in a position to comment on any individual staff member working within the service.

Where the HSE becomes aware of any patient safety issues, they are dealt with promptly and effectively. In this case, the HSE has provided assurance that staff of the orthodontic unit concerned were trained at the time to ensure correct policies and procedures were followed and to prevent the situation occurring again. The patient safety processes have recently been reassessed to ensure that staff remain compliant. As a further assurance the HSE is arranging an assessment by its dental inspectorate of patient safety control and policies in this area. An intensive infection control audit of the orthodontic unit is carried out once a year as part of the audit of the hospital. A routine audit is also carried out at least twice a year by the local cross-infection team. The Dental Council has been notified of this individual case. The council is liaising with the HSE and treating this as a matter of priority. The General Dental Council in the UK has also been notified to ensure that any patient safety issues will be dealt with in tandem if necessary. I assure the Deputy that there is no ongoing risk to the public in relation to this case. The matter is receiving urgent attention in the HSE. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy White, expects a report early in the new year.

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