asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he will take to remedy a situation where the parents of a 14 year old boy (details supplied) in Dublin 20 whose name has been on the waiting list at Crumlin Hospital for 12 months, have been informed that his name is currently number 7,000 on the list for orthodontic treatment and that it will be at least two years until he receives treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment Delays.
76.
The person in question is currently number 4,696 on the waiting list for orthodontic assessment and subsequent treatment if required.
The Eastern Health Board in common with the other health boards makes an assessment of the orthodontic condition of each child perceived to have a problem and if the orthodontic condition conforms with the guidelines laid down by my Department on 22 January 1985, the health board will arrange to have a course of orthodontic treatment provided. Priority in the provision of this treatment is granted to those children with the most serious problems.
Efforts were made unsuccessfully over the past five years to recruit a full-time consultant orthodontist to the Eastern Health Board. A review of the conditions of service attached to this and to the other posts of consultant orthodontist is being carried out at present with a view to making the posts more attractive to suitable candidates. In the interim the Eastern Health Board has made special arrangements with the Dublin Dental Hospital whose senior Lecturer/Consultants are providing orthodontic treatment for eligible children and who are also providing specialist training in orthodontics for members of the dental staff of the Eastern Health Board.
In addition the Government recently made an additional £300,000 available to the eight health boards to help reduce waiting lists for orthodontic treatment. This will enable the health boards to initiate programmes of treatment for some 500 priority cases in the coming weeks. The Eastern Health Board expects to be in a position to begin the treatment of 200 cases as a result of this additional allocation.