Bernard Allen
Question:417 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons awaiting orthodontic assessment in each of the health board areas. [26493/01]
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
Bernard Allen
Question:418 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons awaiting orthodontic treatment in each of the health board areas. [26494/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 417 and 418 together.
The provision of orthodontic treatment for eligible persons is the responsibility of the health boards and information regarding numbers placed on assessment and treatment waiting lists is maintained by the boards.
The chief executive officers of the health boards have informed me that the numbers of patients awaiting assessment and treatment in their areas of responsibility at the end of the September 2001 quarter were as follows:
|
Health Board |
Assessment Waiting List |
Treatment Waiting List |
Category A |
Category B |
|
ERHA |
11,781 |
904 |
||
|
Midland |
377 |
Nil |
473 |
|
|
Mid-Western |
3,380 |
Nil |
1,392 |
|
|
North-Eastern |
Nil |
2 |
640 |
|
|
North-Western |
1,210 |
281 |
1,892 |
|
|
South-Eastern |
257 |
Nil |
462 |
|
|
Southern |
5,962 |
Nil |
4,470 |
|
|
Western |
719 |
Nil |
1,479 |
Patients are referred for secondary care orthodontic treatment in accordance with guidelines issued by my Department that prioritise need for treatment based on the degree of handicap and severity of malocclusion. Patients in Category A require immediate treatment and include those with congenital abnormalities of the jaws such as cleft lip and palate, and patients with major skeletal discrepancies between the sizes of the jaws. Patients in Category B have less severe problems than Category A patients but have a need of treatment and are placed on the orthodontic treatment waiting list.
I am also informed by the chief executive officers of the health boards that at the end of the September 2001 quarter there were 15,920 patients in orthodontic treatment.