Vol. 561 No. 6
101 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason there were half as many children in orthodontic treatment in 2002 as compared with 1996 in view of the fact that the budget for the orthodontic department in 1996 was ?0.5 million and in 2002 it was ?1.932 million, with additional funding of ?0.468 million giving a total of ?2.4 million for the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5046/03]
102 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason in 1996 there were 3,000 patients under treatment in the orthodontic department of the Western Health Board, yet in 2002 there were 1,500 in view of the fact that in 1996 there was one consultant orthodontist and no specialists, whereas in 2002 there was one consultant orthodontist and three specialists; the reason there are now half as many children in treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5047/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.
Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment lies with the health boards in the first instance. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that I have taken a number of measures to improve orthodontic services on a national basis, including those services provided in the Western Health Board area.
The grade of specialist in orthodontics has been created in the health board orthodontic service. This year my Department and the health boards are funding 13 dentists from various health boards – including two from the WHB – for specialist in orthodontics qualifications at training programmes in Ireland and at two separate universities in the United Kingdom. These 13 trainees for the public orthodontic service are additional to the six dentists who commenced their training last year and one dentist whose specialist training is nearing completion. Thus there is an aggregate of 20 dentists in specialist training for orthodontics. The creation of an auxiliary grade of orthodontic therapist is another structural measure being introduced in order to increase the number of orthodontic treatments.
In the short-term, additional funding of €6.729 million was approved for orthodontic services in 2001 of which €4.698 million was to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. The additional funding of €0.628 million allocated to the WHB in 2001 for orthodontic services includes €0.533 million for an orthodontic initiative in the board.
Last year my Department provided additional funding of €5 million from the treatment purchase fund to health boards specifically for the purchase of orthodontic treatment. This funding is enabling boards to provide additional sessions for existing staff and purchase treatment from private specialist orthodontic practitioners. Under the scheme the WHB received €0.465 million for the treatment of patients in this way.
The chief executive officer of the WHB has informed me that during the period 1994 to 1996, inclusive, 3,000 patients commenced orthodontic treatment in the board's area. During this time 800 of those patients completed their treatments. In the intervening period the board experienced staffing shortages. This resulted in reduced levels of activity and an increase in waiting lists and waiting times for assessment and treatment and some 300 cases commenced treatment in the period 1996 to 1997.
