Vol. 400 No. 9
203 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the dental clinic providing treatment for children in Swords, County Dublin; and if he will outline (a) the number of dental surgeons attending, (b) the frequency of clinics, (c) the average waiting period for treatment and (d) the number on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment.
Nine three-hour sessions are carried out each week in the dental clinic at Swords. In addition, the principal dental surgeon provides one session of orthodontic treatment every month.
The average waiting time for a course of routine dental treatment is two-and-a-half months but emergency treatment is available to persons who are in pain.
There are 702 persons on the orthodontic waiting list at present. This list is currently being reviewed by the Eastern Health Board.
Since November 1989, the Government has made special allocations of £1 million to the health boards to provide additional orthodontic treatment for top priority cases. This amount supplements the moneys already allocated by the health boards for orthodontic services.
The Department is closely monitoring progress being made in the current year to reduce the orthodontic waiting lists and will take further action if necessary. Four vacant posts of consultant orthodontist in the health board dental service, are being advertised with more attractive conditions of service. A fifth post, in the Eastern Health Board has already been advertised. In addition arrangements are in place to train a number of health board dental surgeons from the Eastern Health Board in advanced orthodontic techniques.
204 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the dental clinic providing treatment for children in Malahide, County Dublin; and if he will outline (a) the number of dental surgeons attending, (b) the frequency of clinics, (c) the average waiting period for treatment and (d) the number on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment.
205 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the dental clinic providing treatment for children in Portmarnock, County Dublin; and if he will outline (a) the number of dental surgeons attending, (b) the frequency of clinics, (c) the average waiting period for treatment and (d) the number on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment.
I will take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. Eligible children in the Portmarnock area are served by the dental clinics at Malahide and Baldoyle. Normally ten three hour sessions are carried out each week in the dental clinic at Malahide. Due to a dental surgeon post becoming vacant, these sessions ceased for an eight-week period recently. However, they have now resumed with the filling of the vacant post. Five three hour sessions are carried out each week in the dental clinic at Baldoyle. In addition, the principal dental surgeon provides one session of orthodontic treatment each week in Malahide and one session each week in Baldoyle.
The average waiting time for a course of routine dental treatment is three months but emergency treatment is available to persons who are in pain.
There are 94 persons in Portmarnock and 444 persons in Malahide on the orthodontic waiting list at present. This list is currently being reviewed by the Eastern Health Board.
Since November 1989, the Government have made special allocations of £1 million to the health boards to provide additional orthodontic treatment for top priority cases. This amount supplements the moneys already allocated by the health boards for orthodontic services.
206 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the dental clinic providing treatment for children in Skerries, County Dublin; and if he will outline (a) the number of dental surgeons attending, (b) the frequency of clinics, (c) the average waiting period for treatment and (d) the number on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment.
Six three-hour sessions are carried out each week in the dental clinic at Skerries. In addition, the principal dental surgeon provides one session of orthodontic treatment every month.
The average waiting time for a course of routine dental treatment is two months but emergency treatment is available to persons who are in pain.
There are 280 persons on the orthodontic waiting list at present. This list is currently being reviewed by the Eastern Health Board.
Since November 1989, the Government has made special allocations of £1 million to the health boards to provide additional orthodontic treatment for top priority cases. This amount supplements the money already allocated by the health boards for orthodontic services.
207 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health the reason children on the dental lists in Balbriggan, County Dublin have not been treated in Balbriggan but have been transferred to another area with subsequent long delays.
Children in the Balbriggan area who require routine dental treatment or primary care orthodontic treatment are treated locally.
Children who require complicated orthodontic treatment are referred to a specialist in orthodontics at either the Health Centre in Crumlin or the centre in North Strand.
