Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Jun 1999

Vol. 507 No. 1

Written Answers. - Orthodontic Services.

Joe Higgins

Question:

64 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the extended delays, aggravated in recent months, for children requiring orthodontic treatment in the Eastern Health Board area; and the action, if any, he proposes to take to resolve the situation. [16174/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The orthodontic service continue to be developed in accordance with the dental health action plan. The action plan provides for the development by each health board of a consultant led orthodontic service. This ensures a service of high quality and high service levels. The provision of an orthodontic service to eligible persons in the Eastern Health Board area is the statutory responsibility of the health board.

I have been advised by the Eastern Health Board that since the introduction of its consultant led orthodontic service in 1996 significant progress has been made in reducing waiting lists and waiting times. All category I patients, the category of greatest need, are assessed and treated immediately. A treatment programme for category II patients is put in place immediately following assessment. The waiting list for assessment for category II patients has been reduced from 10,676 in 1996 to 6,649 in 1999. The average waiting time for assessment has reduced by two years and is now three years and ten months.

The board is continuing in its efforts to further reduce the category II waiting list as quickly as possible. I understand from the board that staffing difficulties which have arisen in recent months are currently being addressed.

The board is planning to develop further surgeries at the board's regional orthodontic department on campus of St. James Hospital this year. The board has also recently completed a planning brief for the proposed regional orthodontic unit at Beaumont Hospital and has submitted this brief to my Department for consideration and approval. The brief will be the subject of discussions between the Eastern Health Board and officials of my Department in the near future.

At the suggestion of my Department, an orthodontic review group was set up by the health boards to prepare a report and make recommendations on the orthodontic services. The objective of this review is to ensure equity in the provision of orthodontic treatment throughout the health boards having regard to the additional resources provided to health boards over the past few years under the dental health action plan. The group recently made its report to the chief executive officers of the health boards and this report is currently the subject of discussions between the chief executive officers of the health boards and my Department.