Vol. 531 No. 4
34 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the procedures he has put in place to assist those on the orthodontic waiting list in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6034/01]
Following recommendations in the Moran Report (Review of Orthodontic Services) structural changes are being introduced in the orthodontic services. However, it will be some time before these structural changes impact significantly on service levels. Consequently, I asked health boards to develop proposals to make an immediate significant impact on their waiting lists. An additional investment of £5.3 million has been approved for orthodontic services this year, of which £3.7 million is to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists.
The Eastern Regional Health Authority received an additional investment of £2.34 million in 2001 for orthodontic services of which £1.610 million related to the orthodontic initiative. The authority is recruiting additional staff and developing a five surgery unit at St. James's Hospital and a six surgery facility at Loughlinstown Hospital. Three additional consultant orthodontists are being recruited, the appointments to two of these posts are in train and the recruitment process for the third post is under way.
The Department has also approved a proposal from the ERHA for a grant in-aid scheme. Under the scheme, patients who meet the criteria laid down for non-urgent routine treatment will be given the option of availing of treatment from a private orthodontic practitioner. A grant of 50% of the board's overall estimated cost of treatment would be paid. Parents can also avail of income tax relief on the balance where appropriate. A grant of 100% of the board's estimated cost of treatment would be paid in respect of medical card holders.
The scheme will operate on a pilot basis in the Northern Area Health Board for 12 months. A working group on the implementation of the scheme within the board is being established. The target date for the implementation of the pilot scheme is 1 April this year. The ERHA has advised that this additional investment will facilitate the commencement of treatment for an additional 3,000 patients on the assessment waiting list, validation of waiting lists and the reduction of waiting time to one year.
