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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 5

Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.

Liam Aylward

Question:

166 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give approval in view of the large waiting list for orthodontic treatment within the South-Eastern Health Board Area to engage private orthodontists in a private capacity to deal with the waiting list; the details of such a scheme; when approval will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32386/01]

The provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons 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, a dentist from the South-Eastern Health Board – SEHB – 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 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, 1.27 million, was also provided to the orthodontics unit there for its refurbishment to an appropriate standard. 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 £0.15 million, 0.19 million, has been approved to the SEHB for orthodontic services this year, of which £0.100 million, 0.127 million, is to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. This has enabled the health board to recruit additional staff.
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 SEHB has informed me that at the end of the September 2001 quarter, there were 462 patients awaiting orthodontic treatment and the average waiting time for treatment is 12 months. The chief executive officer of the SEHB has also informed me that at the end of the September 2001 quarter, the number of patients in orthodontic treatment was 1,978 which was an increase of 129 on the previous quarter.
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.
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