Liz McManus
Question:129 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, his Department has taken with regard to the urgent need for recruitment of orthodontic staff in the Mid Western Health Board region. [14005/99]
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Services.
Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen): Orthodontic services are being developed in accordance with the dental health action plan. The action plan provides for a consultant-led orthodontic service in each health board. Dental teams provide services under the overall direction and supervision of the consultant. The consultant-led service ensures a high quality of service and high service levels. Additional resources have been made available by my Department to the health boards including the Mid-Western Health Board over the past few years to enable the health boards to develop their orthodontic services in accordance with the action plan.
The provision of orthodontic services and the recruitment of orthodontic staff in the Mid-Western Health Board area is the statutory responsibility of the Mid-Western Health Board.
I have had inquiries made of the Mid-Western Health Board. I understand that the approved staff complement for the orthodontic department is one consultant orthodontist and 6.5 dental surgeons – wholetime equivalents, WTEs. At present the posts of consultant orthodontist and 5.1, WTEs, dental surgeons are filled including 0.5 WTEs on long-term sick leave. The board is currently assessing what action should be taken in relation to the filling of the vacant posts.