'Concerning but not surprising': Dramatic drop in dentists treating medical card holders in Cork 

Figures show the number of dentists treating people with medical cards have reduced by almost half in some areas of Cork.

The figures, provided to The Echo by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, showed numbers increased slightly between 2017 and 2019, after which they started to drop, with the largest decreases happening between 2023 and 2024.

There were 275 dentists on the DTSS scheme in Cork in May 2017; 278 in 2018; 287 in 2019; 282 in 2020; 275 in 2021; 262 in 2022, and 246 in 2023. This year that number has dropped to just 188.

Cork dentist Mairead Browne, spokesperson for the Irish Dental Association, told The Echo that the scheme was “totally unworkable”, prioritising emergencies over prevention.

In Cork South Lee, 44% of dentists that were on the scheme in May 2018 had left by May 2024. North Lee saw a 28% decrease, West Cork saw a decrease of 34%, and North Cork reduced by 26% between 2019 to 2024.

'Neglected'

Cork South West TD Holly Cairns told The Echo: “The reduction in the number of Cork dentists participating in the Dental Treatment Service Scheme is concerning but not surprising.

“Unfortunately, it is reflective of what can be seen all over the country. In fact, nationally, the number of dentists signed up to the DTSS has dropped by almost 50% in the past 10 years.

“There are significant problems with how the DTSS operates, including a major gap between the current fees paid to private dentists by the HSE and the costs they incur,” said Ms Cairns.

“The Minister for Health announced in May 2021 that he would instruct his officials to begin talks on a new scheme as a matter of urgency. However, three years later, the Irish Dental Association are still waiting for formal talks to begin.

“Under this Government, dental care continues to be one of the most neglected areas of our health service.”

Issue raised in Dáil

Raising the issue in the Dáil on Wednesday, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said: “If someone is on a medical card, it is close to impossible to be seen by a dentist, as things stand. I have seen some new figures for the Cork area.”

He criticised in particular the sharp drop in his area, South Lee, saying: “I know this has caused particular problems in Carrigaline, for example, but also in other parts of the constituency, right across Cork and I would say across the country as well.

“It is becoming increasingly hard to find dentists,” he said.

He explained that it won’t just be patients that pay the price for this issues in finding dentists but the dental system itself, as dental health will decrease in years to come, putting more pressure on dentists.

“The DTSS scheme clearly needs to be reviewed and a modern up-to-date contract is needed.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris said that the issue “is a serious one,” and an issue he had been discussing with the Minister for Health this week, and that he and his Department “have given consideration to what measures can be taken”.

“We can point to increased number of dentists etc, but that misses the point in terms of the number of people on the medical card who are reliant on the DTSS scheme,” he said, reiterating that the issue is being worked on.