Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 3

Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.

Seán Haughey

Question:

304 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will allow those children on the waiting lists for orthodontic treatment in the Eastern Regional Health Authority to be treated by other health boards where waiting lists are not as severe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28599/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The provision of orthodontic services is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance. I have initiated a range of measures to substantially increase the capacity of the orthodontic services and reduce the waiting times for orthodontic treatment.

Structural changes are being introduced into 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 now been reached at the Health Service Employers Agency on the creation of the specialist in orthodontics grade in the orthodontic service. In addition, four dentists for the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, commenced training in October 2001 for specialist in orthodontics qualifications. Discussions on providing an additional training course to commence in 2002 are also under way.

My Department has funded the appointment of a director of specialist training for the Irish committee for specialist training in dentistry through the postgraduate medical and dental board. The director has taken up duty and will play a pivotal role in assisting the different agencies involved in dental specialist training programmes.

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 £2.34 million – 2.971 million – has been approved for the ERHA for orthodontic services this year, of which £1.61 million – 2.044 million – is to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. This is enabling the health board to recruit additional staff. The authority has also developed an additional six surgery facility and a five surgery facility at Loughlinstown regional orthodontic unit and St. James's Hospital orthodontic unit respectively. Furthermore, under this initiative my Department is exploring with health boards new arrangements for the treatment of patients, both by private specialist orthodontic practitioners and in out of hours sessions by health board orthodontists.

The chief executive officer of the ERHA has informed me that at the end of the September 2001 quarter, there were 3,288 patients in treatment in the authority. I am confident that when fully implemented this initiative, combined with the structural changes to the orthodontic service, will significantly increase the number of patients in and reduce waiting times for treatment.