The North Belfast MLA was speaking ahead of an Alliance Party Assembly motion on Tuesday (27 May) seeking to address the severe challenges facing the dental sector.
Ms McAllister said: “The gap between the Health Department’s fees for dentists and the cost of providing services means that many dental practices are struggling to remain financially viable. A lot of practices are having to move away from NHS services and increase private work, at the expense of NHS patients, just to keep the lights on.
“We are witnessing this trend continuing to increase and, as a result, Northern Ireland now only has two practices offering fully NHS services. This leaves patients with the only option to go privately, many of whom cannot afford private care.
“Access to high-quality dental care is not a luxury, it is an essential form of preventative healthcare. Regular dental visits can help identify serious issues early, such as the early signs of oral cancer. By addressing these problems proactively, we can reduce the pressure on wider healthcare services, including inpatient care and hospitalisations for other conditions.
“Urgent action is needed, and our motion is calling for the development of an ambitious Oral Health Strategy to deliver better oral health for everyone. We also want to address the funding crisis in dentistry with a long-term, sustainable investment model, ensuring that everyone has access to quality care and prevention. A crucial first step in this process is to complete the ongoing review of dentistry costs as soon as possible.
“The current dental system is causing inequality, leaving many people without adequate healthcare, and my Alliance colleagues and I will continue to pressure the Health Minister to take action, otherwise, the crisis facing our dental practices will continue to escalate."
Ms McAllister said: “The gap between the Health Department’s fees for dentists and the cost of providing services means that many dental practices are struggling to remain financially viable. A lot of practices are having to move away from NHS services and increase private work, at the expense of NHS patients, just to keep the lights on.
“We are witnessing this trend continuing to increase and, as a result, Northern Ireland now only has two practices offering fully NHS services. This leaves patients with the only option to go privately, many of whom cannot afford private care.
“Access to high-quality dental care is not a luxury, it is an essential form of preventative healthcare. Regular dental visits can help identify serious issues early, such as the early signs of oral cancer. By addressing these problems proactively, we can reduce the pressure on wider healthcare services, including inpatient care and hospitalisations for other conditions.
“Urgent action is needed, and our motion is calling for the development of an ambitious Oral Health Strategy to deliver better oral health for everyone. We also want to address the funding crisis in dentistry with a long-term, sustainable investment model, ensuring that everyone has access to quality care and prevention. A crucial first step in this process is to complete the ongoing review of dentistry costs as soon as possible.
“The current dental system is causing inequality, leaving many people without adequate healthcare, and my Alliance colleagues and I will continue to pressure the Health Minister to take action, otherwise, the crisis facing our dental practices will continue to escalate."