Paul Kehoe
Question:293 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children the exact entitlements in respect of health services for refugees and asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19098/02]
Written Answers. - Health Services for Refugees.
The health care of immigrants is addressed in the context of general arrangements governing eligibility for public health services. Under the Health Act, 1970, entitlement to health services is primarily based on residency and means. Any person, regardless of nationality, who is accepted by the health boards as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility, category 1, or limited eligibility, category 2, for health services. Health boards normally regard a person as ordinarily resident in Ireland if he or she satisfies the health board that it is his or her intention to remain in Ireland for a minimum period of one year.
Persons in category 1 are medical card holders and they are entitled to a full range of services, including general practitioners services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service.
Persons in category 2, non-medical card holders, are entitled, subject to certain charges, to all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services and out-patient public hospital services including consultant services. Dental and routine ophthalmic and aural services are excluded from out-patient services available. However, such treatment is provided to children who have been referred from a child health clinic or a school health examination.
In discharging its international obligations, my Department, through the health boards, provides for the health care of asylum seekers. The arrangements in place are not subject to residency and means criteria and such persons may avail of public health services on the same basis as medical card holders, while awaiting a decision on an application to remain in this country.
As part of the initial reception process for asylum seekers, communicable disease screening is offered on a voluntary basis to such persons during their stay at reception centres in Dublin. This service is offered in the interests of the asylum seekers, their families and the community gener ally. Health boards in other parts of the country also offer screening to asylum seekers accommodated in their area, who have not availed of screening during their stay in Dublin.
Dan Neville
Question:294 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of orthodontists employed in each health board area for each of the years 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. [19105/02]
The provision of orthodontic services to eligible persons is the responsibility of the health boards-authority in the first instance.
The information requested by the Deputy has been received from the health boards-authority and is set out in the following tables:
|
1999Health Board |
Number of Orthodontists and Other Dentists Providing Services |
|
Eastern |
1 Consultant Orthodontist1 Senior Registrar5 Senior Dental Surgeons with Orthodontist Qualifications8 Senior Dental Surgeons |
|
Midland |
7 Orthodontists employed by Board on a sessional basis |
|
Mid-Western |
1 Consultant Orthodontist6 Senior Dental Surgeons (some with Orthodontist Qualifications) |
|
North-Eastern |
1 Consultant Orthodontist5 Orthodontists employed on a sessional basis |
|
North-Western |
1 Consultant Orthodontist1 Senior Dental Surgeon with Orthodontist Qualifications |
|
South-Eastern |
1 Consultant Orthodontist6 Senior Dental Surgeons (some with Orthodontist Qualifications) |
|
Southern |
1 Consultant Orthodontist8 Senior Dental Surgeons |
|
Western |
1 Consultant Orthodontist5 Senior Dental Surgeons |
|
2000 (October)Health Board |
Number of Orthodontists Employed |
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
1 × Cons.# Orthodontist6 × Senior Dental Surgeons with M. Orth. Qualification |
|
Midland Health Board |
1.7 wholetime equivalent orthodontists working on a fee per item basis and 0.8 wholetime equivalent salaried orthodontist on contract |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
1 × Cons. Orthodontist2 × full-time Senior Dental Surgeons, 1 × half-time and another one providing a service one day a week, all with M. Orth. Qualification |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
1 × Cons. Orthodontist4 × Senior Dental Surgeons |
|
North-Western Health Board |
1 × Cons. Orthodontist2 × Senior Dental Surgeon with orthodontic qualification1 × Specialist Orthodontic Registrar |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
1 × Cons. Orthodontist6 × Senior Dental Surgeons providing a service |
|
Southern Health Board |
1 × Cons. Orthodontist6 × Senior Dental Surgeons providing a service |
|
Western Health Board |
1 × Cons. Orthodontist4 × full time Senior Dental Surgeons providing a service3 × part time Senior Dental Surgeons providing a service |
# Cons. denotes Consultant.
|
2001 (November)Health Board |
ConsultantOrthodontist |
Specialist |
Trainee |
DentalSurgeon |
Total |
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
3 |
5.4 |
4 |
2.6 |
15 |
|
Midland |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Mid-Western |
1 |
2.6 |
0 |
2 |
5.6 |
|
North-Eastern |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
|
North-Western |
0.5 |
3 |
0 |
1.5 |
5 |
|
South-Eastern |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
|
Southern |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
|
Western |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
|
2002 (March)Health Board |
Consultant Orthodontist |
Specialist |
Trainee |
DentalSurgeon |
Total |
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
3 |
5.4 |
4 |
2.6 |
15 |
|
Midland |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
Mid-Western |
1 |
2.6 |
0 |
2 |
5.6 |
|
North-Eastern |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
|
North-Western |
0.5 |
3 |
0 |
1.5 |
5 |
|
South-Eastern |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
|
Southern |
1 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
9 |
|
Western |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
6 |