Dental posts to be filled at Clondalkin clinic

By Maurice Garvey

FIANNA Fáil TD for Dublin Mid-West John Curran has this week welcomed the approval by Health Minister Simon Harris to allow the commencement of recruitment of dentists to fill two vacant dental posts at the Boot Road Dental Clinic.

There were protests last July, after the HSE transferred services from the area to Rowlagh and Ballyfermot.

The HSE said this was due to a staffing issue, citing resignations of two dentists, and four other dentists on maternity leave in the Dublin West area,

Deputy Curran said: “I am delighted that the recruitment process has begun on the vacant dental posts in the Boot Road Dental Clinic. Many residents had raised this issue with me as they had no dental services in Clondalkin for some time.

“Patients had to travel to Ballyfermot, Inchicore and Rowlagh for dental services. This was causing huge inconvenience for patients, especially in emergency cases and elderly patients.”

He continued: “The HSE have now confirmed to me that services are being centralised at Rowlagh Health Centre, Clondalkin and Ballyfermot Primary Health Care Centre to provide for the efficient delivery of emergency services.

“Subject to appropriate staffing levels being in place, it is the intention of the HSE to maintain dental services within the Clondalkin area.

“I am calling on the HSE to continue to monitor any impact on waiting times for dental services in the Clondalkin area until such time as recruitment has completed and services are fully operational and returned to the Boot Road Clinic.”