Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
Noel Ahern
Question:
502
Mr. N. Ahern
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no patients on the normal orthodontic list in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area have been called for assessment in the past 12 months; the action he will take on this matter; if the chief executive officer has been called to account for non-delivery of this service; and if he will take immediate specific action on the issue.
[21672/01]
The provision of orthodontic treatment is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance.
The chief executive officer of the Eastern Regional Health Authority has informed me that to date, the authority has underlined the reduction of the category I assessment waiting list, which is comprised entirely of high priority cases and dealt with on a priority basis. The category I assessment waiting list has been significantly reduced to 16 cases as at August 2001. The chief executive officer has also informed me that the next main priority of its orthodontic service will be the reduction of the category II assessment waiting list.
I am concerned that the waiting times for orthodontic services in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, are unacceptably long. However, the chief executive officer of the authority has informed me that under the orthodontic initiative, steps have been taken to address the situation and progress has been made on a
number of developments.
Two additional consultant orthodontists have been appointed. The first has been assigned to the East Coast Area Health Board and the second has been appointed to the South-Western Area Health Board. These appointments will,inter alia, immediately increase the number of patients assessed for orthodontic treatment in the authority.
The recruitment of a consultant orthodontist for the Northern Area Health Board is currently in train. Two orthodontic specialists have been recruited and a further recruitment drive is in progress to recruit four more. The recruitment process for three managers to manage the orthodontic services in the three area health boards has been completed and the successful candidates have taken up their duties.
Interviews for posts of dental surgery assistants in the East Coast Area Health Board have been completed and the recruitment process for the successful candidates is almost finalised. A competition in respect of similar posts in the other area health boards will be organised in the near future.
A competition to fill the post of dental hygienist in the East Coast Area Health Board has been completed and the recruitment of the successful candidate is currently in train. A competition in respect of similar posts in the other area health boards will be organised in the near future.
The previously vacant post of superintendent radiographer at the regional orthodontic unit in St. James's hospital unit has been filled. A similar post for the Loughlinstown unit has been filled on a permanent basis.
A six surgery facility at the Loughlinstown regional orthodontic unit has been developed and is now open. The treatment of patients there has commenced.
The equipping of an additional five surgery unit at the St. James's hospital orthodontic unit is being completed and it will be operational in the near future.
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; meanwhile, the board proposes to acquire suitable accommodation for its orthodontic service. In addition, services will continue to be provided by the regional orthodontic unit at St. James's Hospital.
Validation of existing waiting lists is currently in progress. I am further informed by the chief executive officer of the ERHA that at the end of the June 2001 quarter, there were 3,297 patients in orthodontic treatment in the authority. In addition, 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 auxiliary dental worker to work in the orthodontic area. Agreement has been reached between the ERHA and the Dublin Dental Hospital on the training of specialists to work in orthodontics and four dentists for the ERHA will commence training this month.
Overall, this initiative will have a significant impact on orthodontic waiting lists. The authority has advised me that the ultimate effect of their proposals when fully implemented, will be to increase the numbers in treatment by 3,000 per annum and significantly reduce waiting times for treatment. The outcome of this initiative in conjunction with the structural changes will be carefully monitored to assess the impact on waiting lists and to determine what further resources, if any, are required.
