Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
Michael Ring
Question:
31
Mr. Ring
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the impact the waiting list initiative has had on orthodontic waiting lists in each health board area or authority, giving the approximate reduction of the lists in each area or authority.
[19182/01]
The provision of orthodontic services is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance.
I recognise that the waiting times for orthodontic treatment are unacceptably long. At the invitation of my Department, a group representative of health board management and consultant orthodontists reviewed the orthodontic services. The objective of this review was to ensure equity in the provision of orthodontic treatment throughout the health boards. Following this review structural changes are being introduced in the orthodontic services. These changes include the creation of the grade of specialist in orthodontics, the development of specialist training programmes and the creation of a grade of auxili ary dental worker to work in the orthodontic area.
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. This will enable health boards to recruit additional staff and engage the services of private orthodontists to treat patients.
In the Eastern Regional Health Authority, two additional consultant orthodontists have been appointed and the recruitment of a fourth consultant orthodontist for the Northern Area Health Board is in train. Two orthodontic specialists have been recruited and the recruitment process for three managers to manage the orthodontic services in the three area health boards has been completed; two of the managers will commence duty in July and the third will take up duty next August. A six surgery facility at the Loughlinstown regional orthodontic unit has been developed and is currently being equipped. The equipping of an additional five surgery unit at the St. James's Hospital orthodontic unit is being completed. The Northern Area Health Board is currently progressing plans for the development of a new regional orthodontic unit to be located on the grounds of James Connolly Memorial Hospital. Agreement has been reached between the ERHA and the Dublin Dental Hospital on the training of specialists to work in orthodontics and four dentists will commence training in 2001. Validation of waiting lists is currently in progress.
The initiative in the ERHA will enable an additional 3,000 patients on the assessment waiting lists to commence treatment.
The Southern Health Board's proposals include the development of new orthodontic units in Tralee and North Cork and the recruitment of two additional consultant orthodontists; both positions were advertised last week. The board also proposes to commission four additional orthodontic chairs in the orthodontic unit in St Finbarr's Hospital and to validate waiting lists. These proposals will double the capacity of the orthodontic services and reduce waiting times to under 12 months in the Southern Health Board.
The proposals from the Midland, Mid-Western, North-Eastern, North-Western, South-Eastern and Western Health boards include the use of private orthodontists, the training of two specialists in orthodontics in the Dublin Dental Hospital to commence in October 2001, and the recruitment of three additional orthodontic specialists, one senior clinical dental surgeon, four dental surgery assistants and three administrative staff. Additional sessions by health board staff and validation of waiting lists are also proposed.
The impact of the initiative in these health boards will enable an additional 2,500 patients approximately to commence treatment.
Overall, this initiative will have a significant impact on orthodontic waiting lists. The health boards have advised me that the ultimate effect of their proposals when fully implemented, will be to increase the numbers in treatment by 5,500 per annum and significantly reduce waiting times for treatment.
The effect of the initiative is becoming evident in the short time of its existence. The chief executive officer of the Western Health Board has informed me that the numbers awaiting orthodontic treatment and assessment have been reduced by approximately 800 since the initiative commenced in the board. In addition, the chief executive officer of the ERHA has informed me that the recruitment of additional clinical staff has allowed treatment to commence or recommence for approximately 1,150 patients since September 2000.
In the longer term, this initiative – combined with the structural changes being introduced – will, I am convinced, secure the delivery of an effective orthodontic service.
