asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children currently awaiting orthodontic treatment in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17808/03]
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
335
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:346 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children currently awaiting orthodontic treatment in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area; the time they have spent on waiting lists; when it is expected treatment will be offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17819/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:347 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to provide an adequate orthodontic service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17820/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 346 and 347 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons is the responsibility of the health boards or authority in the first instance. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that I have taken a number of measures to improve orthodontic services in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, area and on a national basis.
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 for specialist in orthodontics qualifications at training programmes in Ireland and at three 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 – five of whom are from the ERHA – and one dentist whose specialist training is nearing completion. Thus, there is an aggregate of 20 public service dentists currently in training for specialist in orthodontics qualifications. These measures will complement the other structural changes being introduced into the orthodontic service, including the creation of an auxiliary grade of orthodontic therapist to work in the orthodontic area.
Orthodontic initiative funding of €4.698 million was provided to the health boards and the health authority in 2001 and this has enabled health boards to recruit additional staff, engage the services of private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat patients and build additional orthodontic facilities. Under the initiative, the ERHA was allocated €2.044 million. This enabled the authority to recruit additional staff, including two consultant orthodontists and to develop new treatment facilities at Loughlinstown and at the regional orthodontic unit located at St. James's Hospital. My Department has also funded a six-chair orthodontic suite for the Northern Area Health Board, operational since May 2003. The authority is also validating its orthodontic waiting lists as part of this initiative.
In June 2002, my Department provided additional funding of €5 million from the treatment purchase fund to the health boards and health authority specifically for the purchase of orthodontic treatment. This funding is enabling the boards and the health authority to provide both additional sessions for existing staff and purchase treatment from private specialist orthodontic practitioners. The ERHA was allocated an additional €1.815 million from this fund for the treatment of cases in this way.
The regional chief executive of the ERHA has informed me of the following information on the orthodontic waiting lists as at the end of the March 2003 quarter:
Treatment waiting list
|
Health board area |
Category A |
Waiting time (months) |
Category B |
Waiting time (months) |
|
South-Western |
433 |
467 |
16-20 |
|
|
East Coast |
14 |
114 |
||
|
Northern |
0 |
No waiting time |
1937 |
The number of cases on orthodontic treatment waiting lists by county is not routinely collected by my Department. Therefore, the regional chief executive of the ERHA has been requested to provide the information requested directly to the Deputy.
The regional chief executive of the authority has informed me that at the end of the March 2003 quarter, there were 3,858 patients receiving orthodontic treatment in the ERHA.