asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction which exists in the Mid-Western Health Board area regarding the inadequate level of dental services; if he has any proposal to improve the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Services.
2.
The Mid-Western Health Board provides a comprehensive dental service, including the most advanced orthodontic therapy for children. In recent times the health board have found it necessary to curtail the ad hoc dental scheme under which eligible adults are referred to private dentists for treatment. However, eligible persons can obtain emergency treatment for the relief of pain at short notice through the health board's own dental service. In 1985 a total of 34,000 courses of treatment was provided by the health board for eligible persons as against 26,000 in 1984.
Can the Minister indicate the number of people who are at present awaiting dental treatment in the Mid-Western Health Board area, particularly in County Clare?
In 1985 25,000 children and 9,000 adults completed courses of treatment, a substantial increase over the 26,000 people treated in 1984. The waiting list is being tackled and at present there are 6,000 children and 3,000 adults awaiting treatment.
Is the Minister aware that now up to 10,000 people are waiting? Is that number correct?
Yes. The number last year was quite substantial and, as the Deputy knows, a consultant orthodontist was appointed to the Mid-Western Health Board last April and he has introduced a comprehensive assessment programme in accordance with the guidelines drawn up by the Department of Health. He has also trained a number of his dental colleagues in the assessment of orthodontic cases. So far since last April 1,750 children have been assessed and of these 568 children are now under active treatment. The situation overall has improved in that health board but, as the Deputy is aware, the backlog is still substantial.
The situation in this regard in the Mid-Western Health Board area is now chronic. Can the Minister give any indication that additional finances or personnel will be provided to the board to enable them to deal with the backlog? At current trends it will be probably ten to 15 years before the backlog is cleared and then, unfortunately for many people, it will be too late especially for many young children.
With the appointment of a consultant orthodontist last April we will have a full year's return from him very shortly. I am quite pleased at the exceptional work done there, but at the moment priority is still being given to those children with the most severe problems. The Deputy is aware that for adults specific priority is given to expectant and nursing mothers, the handicapped and the elderly, but emergency treatment is available at short notice for adults who require it.
Can the Minister give an indication of when it is likely that the backlog will be cleared, or is it possible that it will ever be cleared?
I have not got an indication but, as the Deputy knows, with the appointment of a consultant orthodontist assessments tend to go up and, therefore, we are dealing now with that substantial backlog.
Do the health board intend to fill the two established posts for dental officers that are vacant at present? Also can he tell us the number of persons treated under the ad hoc scheme in 1985?
I have not got the exact number, or any number, currently available to me of those treated under the ad hoc scheme by the Mid-Western Health Board. The question did not relate to that. Regarding dental officers, they too are involved in the public service embargo, but the important development in that health board area was the appointment of a consultant orthodontist, and the Deputy knows that there are six vacancies throughout the country in that area at the moment.
Surely listening to the Minister's answer to Deputy Daly one would see a need to fill those two vacant posts of dental officer. Surely the embargo should not apply. That is a national problem which we do not want to go into now because this refers to the mid-west. Can the Minister explain why in answer to a question here on 20 March he was able to give the figures for treatment under the ad hoc scheme in every health board area in 1985 except the Mid-Western Health Board, and why these figures are not available?
I will seek the information from the health board, but that was not specifically asked in the question which was in regard to the generality of the service. In fairness to the health board and the Department of Health, 8,000 more people received dental treatment in that health board area last year than in the preceding year and——
That is not the point. Ten thousand people are waiting.
I have no doubt that in 1986 there will be a substantial increase there.
There are still 10,000 people waiting.
That is a great many fewer than were previously on the waiting list.
(Interruptions.)
A final supplementary from Deputy Ormonde.
In relation to the ad hoc dental scheme, does such a scheme exist in the mid-west? In the south-east, which I represent, we are considering abolishing it because no finance is available for it. Are finances available for the ad hoc dental scheme in the mid-west?
The board, nevertheless, are providing courses of treatment. The important thing is that persons in need of dental care and treatment should receive it. I reiterate that last year 25,000 children and 9,000 adults completed courses in that health board area, which was 8,000 more than in the preceding year. In fairness, that is not bad going.
Because of the embargo 10,000 people cannot have any treatment.
There were many more on the waiting list prior to that.