Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 2

Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.

Joe Higgins

Question:

122 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether it is in the health board's interests to ensure proper post graduate training and education for the staff who provide orthodontic treatment in view of the fact that his Department's policy states that it is the statutory obligation of the Eastern Health Board to provide orthodontic treatment for eligible patients; his views on whether the establishment of training pathways, linking with the Dublin Dental Hospital, would allow staff to continue to provide a service in the Eastern Health Board whilst attending an academic institution; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, in the absence of a programme in Ireland, staff in the North-Western and South-Eastern Health Boards have established links with other dental hospitals outside the State, for example in Belfast and London; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5835/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Health board dentists providing orthodontic treatment at secondary care level do so under the overall direction and supervision of the consultant orthodontist and receive training, as necessary, from the consultant.

It is not necessary that in each case the dentist undergoing training should be in a formal training programme with a dental school leading to a postgraduate qualification. However, I am concerned to ensure that postgraduate training programmes of both dental schools in orthodontics and other disciplines adequately reflect current and future needs of the public dental service under the health strategy and the dental health action plan.

My Department has commenced discussions with the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board to review the entire organisational arrangements for orthodontic services in the Eastern Health Board area and the role of the Dublin Dental Hospital in the provision of training in orthodontics for health board staff.

The Orthodontic Review Group set up by the health boards at the suggestion of my Department has also examined issues in relation to training in orthodontics. This group, which includes health board consultant orthodontists, is due to report to the chief executive officers in the near future.

Following the developments which I have outlined I will, as necessary, consult my colleague Deputy Martin, Minister for Education and Science to achieve this objective.