Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
109
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of children identified in the course of school medical examinations as being in need of orthodontic treatment in each of the past four years; the number of such children who actually receive treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12769/02]
The provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance.
The chief executive officers of the health boards have provided me with the following information in relation to the number of patients on their waiting lists for orthodontic treatment assessed in accordance with guidelines issued by my Department:
|
Year
|
Treatment waiting list
|
|
1998
|
14,503
|
|
1999
|
12,149
|
|
2000
|
12,593
|
|
2001
|
11,890
|
The chief executive officers of the health boards have further informed me that, at the end of the December 2001 quarter, there were 17,295 patients in orthodontic treatment in the health boards. This is an increase of 3,086 patients in orthodontic treatment when compared with the number of patients in treatment in May 1999. I expect that the number of patients in orthodontic treatment will continue to increase as the measures that I have taken to improve orthodontic services take effect.
I have initiated a range of measures to substantially increase the capacity of the orthodontic services and reduce the waiting times for orthodontic treatment.
Structural changes are being introduced in the orthodontic services. These changes include the creation of the grade of specialist in orthodontics, the development of specialist training programmes and the creation of a grade of auxiliary dental worker to work in the orthodontic area.
Six dentists from the South-Eastern Health Board, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the North-Eastern Health Board, commenced training in October last for specialist in orthodontics qualifications. The general objective of these training programmes is to educate dentists to become specialists in orthodontics with a broad academic background and experience in different clinical treatment methods. They are made possible by co-operation between health boards, consultants and dental teaching institutions. Discussions on providing an additional training course to commence this year are also under way.
My Department has funded the appointment of a director of specialist training for the Irish Committee for Specialist Training in Dentistry through the Post Graduate Medical and Dental Board. The director has taken up duty and will play a pivotal role in assisting the different agencies involved in dental specialist training programmes. My Department has also funded the recruitment of a professor in orthodontics at Cork University dental school to facilitate the development of an approved training programme leading to specialist qualifications in orthodontics. Capital funding of approximately €1.27 million was also provided to the orthodontics unit there for its refurbishment to an appropriate standard.
These measures will complement the other structural changes being introduced in the orthodontic service, namely the creation of the grade of specialist in orthodontics and the creation of an auxiliary grade of orthodontic therapist to work in the orthodontic area. The Dental Council has already established a register of dental specialists with a division of orthodontics. In addition, agreement has been reached at the Health Service Employers Agency on the introduction of the grade of specialist in orthodontics into the public service. This agreement resulted from complex and time-consuming negotiations and its introduction will have a tremendous impact on the future delivery of orthodontics. The grade of orthodontic therapist will act as a support to the consultant orthodontist, specialists and other dentists working in the orthodontic unit, thus enabling a greater volume of treatment.
However, it will be some time before these structural changes impact significantly on service levels. Consequently, I asked health boards to develop proposals to make an immediate significant impact on their waiting lists. An additional investment of €6.729 million was approved for orthodontic services last year, of which €4.698 million was to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. This is enabling health boards to recruit additional staff.
Furthermore, under this initiative my Department is exploring with health boards new arrangements for the treatment of patients, both by private specialist orthodontic practitioners and in out-of-hours sessions by health board orthodontists.
I am confident that when fully implemented this initiative, combined with the structural changes to the orthodontic service, will significantly increase the number of patients and reduce waiting times for treatment.
Question No. 110 answered with Question No. 107.
