Sir, – As practice manager for Dr Orna McEntee (listed among the top 10 dentists, Home News, April 25th), I wish to clarify how medical card remuneration is apportioned.
From a gross payment of €226,000 the main expenses are as follows. 1. Wages: €65,000 (dental nurses and receptionist). 2. Dental materials: 35,000 (filling materials, anaesthetic, infection control, sterilisation). 3. Dental lab costs: €30,000 (fabrication of dentures for patients). 4. Rental of equipment/premises: €10,000 5. Professional indemnity cover: €6,000. This leaves €80,000 before taking account of standard running costs such as telephone, heat, light, insurances, stationery, commercial rates, clinical waste collection charges – not to mention initial capital start-up costs.
Thus, the figures published in bold print might appear slightly misleading to the man in the street. This often leads to resentment towards health care professionals who continue to provide us with essential services under very challenging conditions. Ultimately patients can become more demanding and less appreciative, sometimes leading to unwarranted and unfair litigation. The long-term result of this will be reduced medical services for the whole population as the next generation of health care graduates choose to emigrate (which is already occurring at an alarming rate) leaving us with a shortage of personnel to work in key areas. – Yours,etc,
HUGH CAHALANE,
Castle Avenue, Dublin 3.