Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
Michael Ring
Question:
137
Mr. Ring
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the situation regarding the waiting list initiative; when it will impact on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31132/01]
The provision of orthodontic services is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance. The orthodontic initiative is beginning to impact on the public orthodontic service. At the end of the September 2001 quarter, there were 16,107 patients in orthodontic treatment, an increase of over 580 patients in treatment when compared with the previous quarter. I am confident that the capacity of the public orthodontic service, in terms of the numbers in orthodontic treatment, will increase further as health boards continue to make progress with implementing their proposals under the initiative.
In addition to the orthodontic initiative, structural changes are being introduced into the orthodontic service. 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, six dentists from the Eastern Regional Health Authority, North-Eastern Health Board and South-Eastern Health Board commenced their training in October last for specialist dentist in orthodontics qualifications. Furthermore, three dentists from the Western Health Board and North-Eastern Health Board are already in specialist training for orthodontics and this brings the total number of dentists in such training to nine. 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 Post-Graduate 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. In addition, my Department has also funded the recruitment of a professor in orthodontics at Cork University Dental School to facilitate the development of an approved training programme leading to specialist qualifications in orthodontics. Applications for the post were invited when it was advertised on 19 October last. Capital funding of approximately £1 million, 1.269 million, was also provided to the orthodontics unit there for its refurbishment to an appropriate standard.
Furthermore, under this initiative, my Department is exploring with health boards new arrangements for the treatment of patients by private specialist orthodontic practitioners and in out-of-hours sessions by health board orthodontists.
Billy Timmins
Question:
138
Mr. Timmins
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of children on the orthodontic waiting list for the Eastern Regional Health Authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[31133/01]
The provision of orthodontic treatment to 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 officer of the Eastern Regional Health Authority has informed me that the numbers of patients awaiting assessment and treatment in the authority at the end of the September 2001 quarter were as follows:
|
AssessmentWaiting List
|
TreatmentWaiting List
|
|
Health Board
|
|
|
|
ERHA
|
11,781
|
904
|
The chief executive officer has also informed me that at the end of the same quarter, there were 3,288 patients in orthodontic treatment in the authority.
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 from the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, commenced training in October 2001 for specialist dentist 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 Post-Graduate 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 £2.340 million, 2.971 million, has been approved for the ERHA for orthodontic services this year, of which £1.610 million, 2.044 million, is to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. This is enabling the authority 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 by private specialist orthodontic practitioners and in out-of-hours sessions by health board orthodontists.
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 and reduce waiting times for treatment.
