Bernard Allen
Question:67 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which he will deal with the 5,000 children awaiting orthodontic treatment in the Southern Health Board area. [17316/99]
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
The provision of orthodontic treatment for eligible persons in the Southern Health Board area is the statutory responsibility of the Southern Health Board.
I have had inquiries made of the Southern Health Board. The board is concerned at the very large number of children on the waiting list for both assessment and treatment of orthodontic conditions. Currently patients who were placed on the waiting list in August 1996 are being called and in 1998 over 1,200 patients commenced orthodontic treatment but the annual requirement is for 1,500-1,600 patients per year.
In 1998 the board appointed a registrar and senior registrar to the orthodontic department. The registrar is involved in the treatment of 250-300 patients per annum while the senior registrar has recently taken up a position as consultant orthodontist in the Cork University Dental School.
The employment of the registrar has enabled the board to commence orthodontic clinics in Bantry on two days per week and to increase the clinics in Tralee to three days per week.
I understand that the board has proposals to contract with University Dental Hospital on site at Cork University Hospital for treatment of orthodontic patients from the board's waiting lists and for the Dental Hospital to work more closely with the board's own orthodontic service. This will help to ease waiting lists and waiting times.
The recent report of the review group on orthodontics provides the basis for discussions between my Department and health boards on the further development of orthodontic services.