Just 35 dentists left in North Cork on medical card scheme

Throughout North Cork in the last year, another three dentists have left the scheme providing free dental care to medical card holders, leaving just 35 dentists in the region providing care under the Dental Treatment Service Scheme.

The CSO report that in 2018, nearly one third (32.4%) of the population had a medical card. HSE data gives the population of North Cork as 92,726, so a rough estimate would say that just under 30,000 people in North Cork hold medical cards. That’s one dentist per 848 medical-card holders in the region.

To compound matters, the HSE state that the majority of the remaining 35 dentists are not accepting new patients at this time, but will however, continue to treat existing patients.

The HSE point out that the issue is one that is being encountered nationally, and is not unique to Cork. The health service went on to say that, due to wide reporting in the media, the demand for care has increased on the dentists who do continue to operate on the medical card scheme.

DENTAL SCREENING FOR CHILDREN

HSE Dental Clinics provide services for children from birth to 15 years. This service is accessed through screening appointments in the child’s primary school. However, the programme was suspended for a period of months in both 2020 and 2021 as staff were redeployed to cover needs arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. They confirmed that in North Cork the school screening programme is about 18 months behind schedule. Usually, children who have the screening are referred, if necessary, to a HSE Dental Clinic. The clinic in Mitchelstown closed in March 2020, and the HSE confirmed that it will not be reopened.

Furthermore, the dental surgery primary care waiting list for general anaesthetic, which covers all of Cork County, is currently being validated. The estimated number of North Cork children on this waiting list is currently between 80-100.