asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting lists for dental appointments at each health centre in the Eastern Health Board area; the centres which are short of dentists; when it is intended to appoint additional dentists; if he has satisfied himself that the present service is adequate to provide for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dental Service.
45.
I will circulate in the Official Report a table which sets out the material he has requested.
The Deputy will note that some clinics do not quantify the numbers awaiting treatment and work instead on the time an applicant will have to wait for an appointment.
In relation to orthodontics, the Eastern Health Board has an arrangement whereby children who require advanced treatment will be assessed and treated by the Dublin Dental Hospital.
I have been aware of problems in the delivery of dental services in the Eastern Health Board for some time and I have agreed, at the request of the Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Health Board, to the secondment of the deputy chief dental officer of my Department to the Eastern Health Board for a short period to review the board's present arrangements for the delivery of dental services including the contributions made by the Dublin Dental Hospital to the services and where appropriate to make recommendations for their improvement.
The Local Appointments Commission recently held a competition for clinical dental surgeons grade II from which appointments will be made shortly.
Following is the table:
Children Awaiting Dental Treatment in the Eastern Health Board
|
Clinic |
Number Awaiting Treatment |
Waiting Time |
Number of Dentists Short |
|
Cornmarket A |
4 weeks |
||
|
Cornmarket B |
4 weeks |
||
|
Cornmarket C |
2 months |
||
|
Cornmarket D |
2 months |
||
|
James's Street |
2 months |
||
|
Irishtown |
1 month |
||
|
Inchicore |
2 months |
||
|
Ballyfermot A |
217 |
1 month |
|
|
Ballyfermot B |
210 |
3 months |
2 |
|
Palmerstown |
1 month |
||
|
Rowlagh A |
1 month |
||
|
Rowlagh B |
2 months |
||
|
Clondalkin |
2 months |
||
|
Rathcoole |
1 month |
||
|
Lucan |
1 month |
||
|
Dún Laoghaire |
3-5 weeks |
||
|
Loughlinstown |
5 weeks |
||
|
Dundrum |
8-9 weeks |
||
|
Ballinteer |
3-8 weeks |
1 |
|
|
Blackrock |
2-3 weeks |
||
|
Stillorgan |
nil |
||
|
Dalkey |
3 weeks |
||
|
Rathfarnham |
550 |
||
|
Terenure |
200 |
||
|
Limekiln Lane |
575 |
||
|
Crumlin |
700 |
||
|
Tallaght |
450 |
||
|
Curlew Road |
100 |
||
|
Ballymun |
2 months |
||
|
Larkhill |
3 months |
||
|
Millmount Avenue |
2 months |
||
|
Ballygall Road |
5 months |
1 |
|
|
Wellmount Park |
2 months |
||
|
Phibsboro |
3 months |
||
|
Roselawn |
3,000 |
1 |
|
|
North Strand |
412 |
2 |
|
|
Kilbarrack/Edenmore |
403 |
1 |
|
|
Marino |
nil |
||
|
Howth |
nil |
||
|
Vernon Avenue |
nil |
||
|
Coolock |
2 months |
||
|
Malahide |
43 |
||
|
Baldoyle |
2 months |
||
|
Balbriggan |
120 |
2 months |
|
|
Skerries |
2 months |
||
|
Swords |
2 months |
||
|
Bray |
159 |
12 months |
|
|
Wicklow |
501 |
16-20 months |
|
|
Arklow |
250 |
12 months |
|
|
Greystones |
620 |
18 months |
|
|
Newtownmountkennedy |
455 |
10-12 months |
2 |
|
Carnew |
510 |
12-16 months |
|
|
Rathdrum |
292 |
15 months |
|
|
Aughrim |
15 |
2 months |
|
|
Baltinglass |
276 |
14 months |
|
|
Blessington |
125 |
20 months |
|
|
Naas |
1,600 |
||
|
Kildare |
780 |
||
|
Newbridge |
880 |
||
|
Athy |
720 |
||
|
Maynooth |
185 |
||
|
Kilcock |
75 |
||
|
Leixlip |
340 |
||
|
Kilcullen |
160 |
||
|
Rathangan |
nil |
||
|
Carbury |
nil |
50.
asked the Minister for Health the number of adults awaiting dental treatment in each health board area; the number of children awaiting dental treatment in each health board area; and the length of time they are awaiting same.
I will circulate in the Official Report a table which sets out the material he has requested.
The Deputy will note that waiting lists are not kept for children in many health boards as the services are based on rotational visits to the schools.
Following is the table:
Waiting lists for Dental Services
1. Eastern Health Board
The Eastern Health Board keeps two waiting lists for adults. At present there are 762 persons on the priority list and the board is currently treating persons who made application in February 1988. The priority category comprises persons aged over 60, the handicapped and pregnant and nursing mothers. Persons who do not fall into these groups are placed on the general waiting list. At present there are 9,663 persons on the general waiting list and treatment is currently being provided for those whose names were put on the list in October 1986.
The Eastern Health Board does not have statistics on the numbers of children awaiting dental treatment. The average time a child has to wait to get treatment following application is three months.
2. Midland Health Board
The Midland Health Board suspended the provision of routine dental treatment for eligible adults in 1987 and does not keep a waiting list. The board organises its services for children on the basis of school inspections and as a result waiting lists do not arise.
3. Mid-Western Health Board
The Mid-Western Health Board ceased to add names to its list of adults awaiting routine dental treatment some time after it suspended routine treatment for adults. With regard to services for children, these are organised on a school inspection system in Tipperary North Riding and waiting lists do not arise. In Limerick about 2,500 children are awaiting treatment and the waiting time varies from three to 12 months. In Clare, about 1,500 are awaiting treatment for between six and 12 months.
4. North-Eastern Health Board
Only Meath Community Care area keeps waiting lists at present. There are 3,580 adults and 3,200 children on the lists and the average waiting time is 3-5 years.
5. North-Western Health Board
In 1987 the North-Western Health Board decided to focus its resources on dental services for children. No waiting lists are kept for adults while 5,437 children are on the waiting lists. The waiting time varies from area to area and the maximum waiting time is two years.
6. South-Western Health Board
As the South-Eastern Health Board only provides emergency services for adults it does not have waiting lists. Two community care areas, Carlow-Kilkenny and Tipperary South Riding use school inspection systems and priority is granted to children in sixth standard in Carlow-Kilkenny. In Waterford, 2,500 children are on the list. The average waiting time is 6-12 months, similar to Wexford where, 1,804 children are awaiting treatment.
7. Southern Health Board
There are about 9,000 adults on the waiting list for dental treatment in the Southern Health Board. In the city centre community care areas, a priority system works and people in the priority groups can expect to wait six months while others have to wait up to four years. In west Cork the waiting time is six to 12 months while the waiting time for adults in the other two areas is two to three years.
The Southern Health Board has recently reorganised its services for children to a school based system so waiting lists do not arise.
8. Western Health Board
There are 10,768 adults awaiting dental treatment in the Western Health Board which suspended the provision of routine dental treatment for adults in July 1984 and only provided emergency dental treatment for adults.
The children's service is based on school visitation and so waiting lists do not arise.