asked the Minister for Health the number of children and teenagers awaiting (a) orthodontic screening (b) orthodontic treatment in the eight health board areas; and the measures he proposes to take to alleviate the situation.
63.
Written Answers. - Dental and Orthodontic Treatment.
37.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the curtailment of dental treatment for children in many health board areas and the almost complete absence of orthdontic treatment for children in many areas; the measures which are being taken to provide an adequate level of dental and orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 63 together. I shall also circulate a table giving the numbers of children and teenagers awaiting orthodontic screening and orthodontic treatment.
Over the eight health boards, the number of children receiving dental treatment has increased from 296,000 in 1983 to 319,000 in 1987. However there has been some curtailment of services in the Southern and Western Health Boards due to the demand made on the health boards by eligible adults seeking emergency treatment.
The Deputy will be aware that the provision of orthodontic treatment continues to give cause for concern although all the health board dentists can and do provide routine orthodontic treatment. More complicated cases require the skills or guidance of a consultant orthodontist and competitions held by the Local Appointments Commission over the past four and a half years have only succeeded in filling one of the six posts of consultant orthodontists created for the health boards. The health boards avail of the services of consultant orthodontists in private practice to treat the most serious cases on their waiting lists, usually children with complicated medical problems such as cleft lip and palate and they are only able to refer other children to the private consultants as financial resources permit. It is the intention to continue to endeavour to fill the consultant orthodontist posts and in fact some health boards are now sponsoring the training of orthodontists.
I have I might say also directed the Minister of State at my Department to review the dental services generally and to report to me by the end of April next on the matter.
Number of children awaiting screening for orthodontic treatment and awaiting orthodontic treatment.
|
Health Board |
Number Awaiting Screening |
Number Awaiting Treatment |
|
|
Eastern |
3,065 |
2,695 |
|
|
Midland |
200 |
1,590 |
|
|
Mid-Western |
3,917 |
498 |
|
|
North-Eastern |
4,098a |
||
|
North-Western |
0 |
77 |
|
|
South-Eastern |
4,304a |
||
|
Southern |
2,579a |
||
|
Western |
3,382a |
a These boards do not keep separate waiting lists for screening and treatment.