Marie Sherlock
Question:985. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the commitment to open in James Connolly Hospital a general anaesthetic dental service for special care patients. [4066/26]
View answerTuesday, 20 January 2026
Questions (985)
Written answers
Officials in my Department engage with the HSE on an ongoing basis to understand and address the challenges in the provision of oral healthcare services. Some patients may require access to care under sedation to enable them receive oral healthcare and treatment - which may include Inhalation Sedation, IV Sedation, and General Anaesthetic.
General anaesthetic services for primary care oral healthcare patients are facilitated in a number of locations. Most locations are HSE hospitals but in some cases, lists are carried out in private hospitals through local arrangements or access may involve the patient travelling to an adjacent health region. Children with complex medical needs or who are under the age of 2 are referred to Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin, and Temple Street Hospital.
The development of Oral Healthcare Services under General Anaesthesia at the Urgent Care Centre at Connolly Hospital is a joint development between HSE Oral Healthcare Services and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) - who will provide clinical governance and continuity in patient pathways between primary care patients and those whose treatment is more appropriately provided through the CHI Consultant Oral Healthcare Service.
As an interface service between the HSE Oral Healthcare Services and CHI, completion and commissioning of the unit requires the development of new patient care pathways, staffing arrangements and service guidelines, the development of which is being undertaken against a background of consolidation of existing children’s hospital units into a single service, as well as the transition to the Health Region model.
A process of engagement is currently underway between the HSE regions of Dublin North East and Midlands regarding the provision of dental general anaesthetic services at James Connolly Hospital. So far, there has been investment in infrastructure and equipment; however, remaining clinical governance and staffing arrangements for anaesthetic and nursing care need to be established in order to complete the commissioning of the unit.