Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 4

Written Answers - Orthodontic Service.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

177 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider a request by the Irish Consultant Orthodontic Group to establish training pathways linkage with the Dublin Dental Hospital which would allow staff to continue to provide a valuable service in the west of Ireland, while at the same time attending lectures one day per fortnight at an academic institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6824/98]

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

178 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the request of the orthodontic services staff in the Western Health Board area for an arrangement with institutions, such as the Dublin Dental Hospital to enable them to advance their professional qualifications and training, while at the same time continue to provide a valuable service in the region. [6888/98]

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

188 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the efforts by the Irish Consultant Orthodontists' Group to establish training pathways linking with the Dublin Dental Hospital Board to allow staff to continue to provide a valuable service in orthodontic treatment while attending lectures one day per fortnight at an academic institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6315/98]

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

189 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to assist the Western Health Board to carry out its statutory obligation to provide orthodontic treatment for eligible patients; and the plans, if any, he has to ensure proper post-graduate training and education for staff who provide the service in the Western Health Board area. [6316/98]

John Gormley

Question:

191 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which his Department is facilitating its policy of ensuring that orthodontic treatment is provided for all eligible patients, in view of the failure to source adequate post-graduate training as expressed in a criticism from the health board orthodontic group. [6323/98]

Michael P. Kitt

Question:

199 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide post-graduate training and education for staff in the Western Health Board region who provide orthodontic treatment for eligible patients; if training pathways will be established to link up with the Dublin Dental Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6362/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 177, 178, 179, 188, 189, 191 and 199 together.

The provision of orthodontic services to eligible persons is the statutory responsibility of the health boards. The dental health action plan provides for the development of orthodontic services through the implementation of a consultant led strategy and my Department has provided additional funding to the boards to assist them in developing their consultant led services.

Because of the high cost of providing orthodontic treatment it is important that resources be used to best advantage and for those most severely affected/handicapped. Patients are, therefore, assessed for treatment in accordance with guidelines issued by my Department and placed on waiting lists in descending order of severity/ handicap. These guidelines are currently under review by the Orthodontic Review Group, a group set up by the health boards at the suggestion of my Department to review the guidelines and other issues in relation to the orthodontic services. This group, which includes health board consultant orthodontists, is due to report to the chief executive officers in the near future.

Under the consultant led strategy for the provision of orthodontic services 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 post-graduate qualification. However, I am concerned to ensure that post-graduate 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 concerning the role of the Dublin Dental Hospital and School in the provision of training in orthodontics for the health board staff and has also met with representatives of the Irish Consultant Orthodontists' Group to hear their views on post-graduate training requirements in orthodontics. My Department has also made arrangements to meet the Dublin Dental Hospital and School on the issue. The Orthodontic Review Group has also examined issues in relation to training in orthodontics and will include recommendations in its report.

Following the developments which I have outlined I will, as necessary, consult my colleague Deputy Martin, Minister for Education and Science, to ensure that adequate post-graduate training programmes are provided by both dental schools.