Jim O'Keeffe
Question:110 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to avail of surplus health service capacity in Northern Ireland to help relieve waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Hospitals' Waiting Lists.
Under the waiting list initiative which I launched earlier this year, the Deputy will be aware that my Department entered into agreements with health boards and hospitals throughout the country whereby an additional 17,254 additional procedures would be carried out this year.
A central feature of the initiative is that the agreed additional activity targets would be achieved by individual agencies in 1993. It was also made clear to the agencies involved that where they were satisfied that their own hospitals could not achieve the agreed targets, for whatever reason, they should endeavour to have the operations carried out elsewhere.
In all such cases, it is a matter for the agency concerned to satisfy itself fully that the contracting hospital can meet the requirements in terms of timeframe, cost and quality of care.
Andrew Boylan
Question:112 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting orthodontic treatment in the North Eastern Health Board area; and the categories in which they are placed.
Brendan Smith
Question:237 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Health the total funding provided to the North Eastern Health Board for dental and orthodontic dental treatment in 1993; the increase this allocation represented in the 1992 funding; and if he will provide a substantial increase in the 1994 Estimates in view of the waiting lists for such treatment.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 237 together.
The total non-capital allocations for dental services in the North-Eastern Health Board in 1992 and 1993 were: 1992, £1,640,400; 1993, £1,323,300.
The health board has made substantial improvements in recent years in the level of orthodontic service provided. In 1992 about 1,800 people received treatment.
As the waiting lists for orthodontic treatment are maintained by the health board I have asked the chief executive officer of the North-Eastern Health Board to furnish immediately information in regard to numbers awaiting treatment to the Deputy who sought this information.
In common with certain health boards difficulties are being experienced by the North-Eastern Health Board in providing routine dental services for adult medical card holders. I am addressing this issue in the context of the National Health Strategy which will be completed by the end of this year.