Over 5,000 children in Clare await routine check-up
OVER 5,000 children are awaiting routine dental checks in Clare,it has been revealed.
Primary school pupils, who are entitled to and are due to receive dental assessment, has risen to 5,623 in Clare.
The 2022/2023 figures were recorded at 3,111 which is an increase on the 2021/2022 figures, which were 2,512.
In an official Primary Care HSE statement, it is stated that ‘backlogs’ are to blame for the delay in children receiving School Dental Checks, mainly due to Covid-19.
The statement reads: “It should be noted that as a direct result of the pandemic, the dental service is dealing with a backlog of children who are waiting to be seen for their School Dental Checks.
“The backlog occurred due to a number of factors including the suspension of the service (face to face appointments), the redeployment of dental staff to Covid Testing and the closure of schools.”
Children awaiting free public dental checks are in the targeted age groups, between second class and sixth class in primary school in an academic year. Find out more here: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/dental/