OVER one thousand medical card holders are on a dental waiting list in Sligo, it has emerged.

The waiting list for adult medical card holders for routine planned dental treatment was opened in Markievicz House in May, 2007, following the withdrawal of most private dental practitioners in Sligo from the medical card scheme.

There was no loss of private dentist numbers from the scheme in Leitrim.

Currently 1,060 adult medical card holders are on the waiting list in Markievicz House, the Regional Health Forum West was informed in response to a question on the dental services tabled by Sligo Councillor Declan Bree.

"One dental team was recruited in March 2008 to address the waiting list for planned treatment. To date they have called 595 people from that waiting list. This team also spends one day per week specifically working with Special Needs adults who qualify either through the GMS scheme or due to eligibility arising from their health condition, " Clr. Bree was told.

"There is no waiting list for emergency GMS (Medical Card) patients in Sligo or Leitrim. In general, GMS emergency cases in Leitrim are seen by private dental practitioners. In Sligo, all GMS emergencies are offered immediate treatment by HSE personnel, usually at Markievicz House or Sligo General Hospital, but also at local clinics throughout the county.

"GMS patients can also be seen, along with the rest of the population, at out-ofhours emergencies for trauma or major dental infection are provided by HSE dentists at the Casualty Department in Sligo General. This service covers night time, weekends and all public holidays," he explained.

HSE dentists also provided in-house services to patients at North West Hospice and for cancer patients through the Oncology department at Sligo General Hospital. No waiting lists are held for such patients, the response to requests is as immediate as possible, Clr. Bree went on.

"The school dental service does not operate on a waiting list system. Dentists examine target classes in schools, which are 6th, 4th and 2nd class, and prioritise children according to the observations at the school dental inspection. All children with pain are offered same-day appointments. Parents of children outside the target classes who request appointments are accommodated wherever possible with a future appointment.

"All appropriate primary care dental services are available, such as fillings, extractions, composite bridges, interceptive orthodontics, preventive resin restorations, fissure sealants, periodontal treatment, fluoride applications and so on. The treatments provided are a matter for each dentist and patient within the general policy outlines of the HSE, " he was informed.

Cllr Bree was also told that there were twelve dentists currently employed in the service in Sligo and Leitrim and that there were no vacancies in the service.

He was further informed that the HSE has spent €216,609 on capital equipment in the period November 2006 to 2008.

"The major components of capital equipment are dental units and autoclaves. Dental units may be purchased as an entire package to include chair, light, spittoon, drill unit, compressor etc, or more commonly is purchased as separate units. For example, to upgrade a drill unit, it is usually not necessary to buy a new chair, " Clr. Bree stated.

The total spend on capital equipment from November 2006-November 2008 was €216,609. This breaks down as: Dental chairs, lights, drill units etc €127,480. Autoclaves €89,129. In this time period, all clinics had some upgraded capital equipment," the reply to Clr. Bree concluded.