Written answers

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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368. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 565 of 23 June 2020, the number of dentists operating the dental treatment services scheme that have been supplied with PPE by the HSE from 1 April to 24 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13711/20]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Fees paid to dentists under the DTSS are set out in the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Registered Dentists) Regulations 2009 and the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Registered Dentists) Regulations 2012.

I understand that there are reports that medical card holders may have been refused access to treatment by a small number of dentists with DTSS contracts. The Chief Dental Officer in my Department is urgently pursuing the matter with the HSE National Oral Health Office to seek to ensure that no patients are left without a service.

I am aware that a number of dental contractors have given notice of their intention to withdraw from the DTSS but I would hope that those  dentists would continue to honour their ethical and contractual obligations to patients during the notice withdrawal period to either provide a service or ensure that  patients are referred to  a neighbouring dentist who will provide a service.

I would also expect due process to be followed in respect of any withdrawal from the terms of a DTSS contract, in particular regarding an appropriate period of notice.

The cost of PPE should not be a key determinant in decisions on the treatment of patients. The Dental Council advises that dentists should take a case by case assessment when deciding if additional PPE is warranted. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has advised that regular PPE, which has always been used, is generally sufficient for routine dentistry.

My understanding is that a small number of dentists had applied to the HSE for PPE until early May when the volume of requests increased. My Department, in conjunction with the HSE, is examining the issue of the provision of PPE across all parts of the health service, including health service contractors. I am not aware of any agreement between the HSE and the Irish Dental Association in this regard.

In order to support small, medium and larger businesses that are negatively impacted by COVID-19 a suite of Government measures is in place. These include a Restart grant for which application can be made online to local authorities and a Return to Work Safely Protocol designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The Health and Safety Authority also provides information and advice for employers and employees in this regard.  

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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369. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 565 of 23 June 2020, the PPE agreement, including the costs, between the HSE and an association (details supplied) on 8 May 2020 for dentists operating the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13716/20]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Fees paid to dentists under the DTSS are set out in the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Registered Dentists) Regulations 2009 and the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Registered Dentists) Regulations 2012.

I understand that there are reports that medical card holders may have been refused access to treatment by a small number of dentists with DTSS contracts. The Chief Dental Officer in my Department is urgently pursuing the matter with the HSE National Oral Health Office to seek to ensure that no patients are left without a service.

I am aware that a number of dental contractors have given notice of their intention to withdraw from the DTSS but I would hope that those  dentists would continue to honour their ethical and contractual obligations to patients during the notice withdrawal period to either provide a service or ensure that  patients are referred to  a neighbouring dentist who will provide a service.

I would also expect due process to be followed in respect of any withdrawal from the terms of a DTSS contract, in particular regarding an appropriate period of notice.

The cost of PPE should not be a key determinant in decisions on the treatment of patients. The Dental Council advises that dentists should take a case by case assessment when deciding if additional PPE is warranted. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has advised that regular PPE, which has always been used, is generally sufficient for routine dentistry.

My understanding is that a small number of dentists had applied to the HSE for PPE until early May when the volume of requests increased. My Department, in conjunction with the HSE, is examining the issue of the provision of PPE across all parts of the health service, including health service contractors. I am not aware of any agreement between the HSE and the Irish Dental Association in this regard.

In order to support small, medium and larger businesses that are negatively impacted by COVID-19 a suite of Government measures is in place. These include a Restart grant for which application can be made online to local authorities and a Return to Work Safely Protocol designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The Health and Safety Authority also provides information and advice for employers and employees in this regard.

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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370. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 565 of 23 June 2020, the plans in place by the HSE to ensure that medical card holders that are no longer being treated by their registered dentist under the dental treatment services scheme can continue to receive treatment in view of the large number of dentists withdrawing from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13717/20]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Fees paid to dentists under the DTSS are set out in the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Registered Dentists) Regulations 2009 and the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Registered Dentists) Regulations 2012.

I understand that there are reports that medical card holders may have been refused access to treatment by a small number of dentists with DTSS contracts. The Chief Dental Officer in my Department is urgently pursuing the matter with the HSE National Oral Health Office to seek to ensure that no patients are left without a service.

I am aware that a number of dental contractors have given notice of their intention to withdraw from the DTSS but I would hope that those  dentists would continue to honour their ethical and contractual obligations to patients during the notice withdrawal period to either provide a service or ensure that  patients are referred to  a neighbouring dentist who will provide a service.

I would also expect due process to be followed in respect of any withdrawal from the terms of a DTSS contract, in particular regarding an appropriate period of notice.

The cost of PPE should not be a key determinant in decisions on the treatment of patients. The Dental Council advises that dentists should take a case by case assessment when deciding if additional PPE is warranted. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has advised that regular PPE, which has always been used, is generally sufficient for routine dentistry.

My understanding is that a small number of dentists had applied to the HSE for PPE until early May when the volume of requests increased. My Department, in conjunction with the HSE, is examining the issue of the provision of PPE across all parts of the health service, including health service contractors. I am not aware of any agreement between the HSE and the Irish Dental Association in this regard.

In order to support small, medium and larger businesses that are negatively impacted by COVID-19 a suite of Government measures is in place. These include a Restart grant for which application can be made online to local authorities and a Return to Work Safely Protocol designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The Health and Safety Authority also provides information and advice for employers and employees in this regard.

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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371. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 565 of 23 June 2020, his plans to engage with dentists on the dental treatment services scheme contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13718/20]

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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455. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to engage with an organisation (details supplied) on a review of the DTSS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13077/20]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 455 together.

Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy, which was published in April 2019, provides the groundwork to transform oral health services over the next eight years.

The Policy has two key goals:-

- to provide the supports to enable every individual to achieve their personal best oral health.

- to reduce oral health inequalities across the population, by enabling vulnerable groups to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health.

The Policy includes proposals for the introduction of packages of oral healthcare for adult medical card holders (i.e. over 16 years) at different intervals during their life course. The packages will focus on prevention and will include examinations, advice, and preventive therapies such as scale and polish, fissure sealants, and fluoride therapy as well as one filling. Routine care including additional fillings and complex care will continue to be available in addition to the preventative packages of care.

The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), which currently provides a range of dental treatments to medical card holders will need to be revised in order to align it with modern evidence on oral health needs and provision of dental services. My Department is committed to reviewing the provision of dental care for those eligible for public services and will engage with the Irish Dental Association in this regard.

Photo of Pa DalyPa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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372. To ask the Minister for Health if an order tracking history (details supplied) associated with a PPE order will be provided; and when the order will be completed [12689/20]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

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