asked the Minister for Health the waiting period for treatment under the medical card dental and optical schemes in the various health board areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dental and Optical Schemes Waiting List.
124.
The waiting period for adults for treatment under the medical card dental and optical schemes in the health boards are:
|
Dental |
Optical |
|
|
Eastern |
13 months-26 months |
2 months |
|
Midland |
no waiting list kept |
2 months |
|
Mid-Western |
no waiting list kept |
4-15 months |
|
North-Eastern |
2 years |
9 months |
|
North-Western |
no waiting list kept |
3 months-24 months |
|
South-Eastern |
no waiting list kept |
6 weeks-14 months |
|
Southern |
6 months-3 years |
3 months-12 months |
|
Western |
no waiting list kept |
6 months-8 months |
As some health boards have suspended the provision of routine dental treatment for adults, they no longer keep waiting lists. In health boards where lists are kept, the waiting times vary between the community care areas. The waiting times vary between the community care areas. The waiting time shown for the dental services in the North-Eastern Health Board relates only to Meath. Waiting lists have been suspended in the other community care areas of the health board.
In view of the problem over a number of years I have recently appointed a small working group under the chairmanship of my colleague Deputy Leyden, Minister of State to report to me as a matter of urgency on ways in which the delivery of dental services might be improved. I expect to receive the report of the working group shortly.
While many health boards have suspended the sight testing scheme whereby they availed of the services of private opthalmic opticians to test the sight of eligible adults, the health boards continue to operate the community ophthalmic service which is staffed by county ophthalmologists. The boards thus maintain an optical service for eligible adults.