Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 2001

Vol. 165 No. 4

Adjournment Matters. - Orthodontic Service.

Mr. Costello

I wish to raise with the Minister the case of a young girl who has been waiting seven years for orthodontic treatment and to get a commitment as to when she will receive it.

In December 1994 the young girl in question was referred as a category II patient and deemed eligible for orthodontic treatment. The parents were informed in 1999 that she had been overlooked for an appointment date and that all efforts would be made to correct the situation. No date for an appointment has been given. A great deal of work has been done trying to persuade the authorities to provide the service, but to no avail. The parents are unable to ascertain a date for an appointment and are frequently told, when they make contact with those in the service, that there is a shortage of specialists providing orthodontic treatment. This situation is unsatisfactory.

This young girl was identified at eight years of age as eligible for treatment. She is now 16 years old and has not received treatment. This is a matter of great distress and embarrassment to her. She is now in her teens and this issue will become even more embarrassing when she reaches the age where she wishes to socialise with friends. I am seeking a commitment from the Minister that this girl will be provided with a specific date for an appointment for treatment.

In the wider context, will the Minister ensure adequate funding is put in place to ensure salaries of sufficient level are available to attract people to this position. We must provide an adequate service for children who require orthodontic treatment. Children are no longer considered eligible for such treatment on reaching 16 years of age. Surely, treatment should be provided at the earliest possible opportunity. With the coffers full of money and the European Union advising us to spend it wisely in areas of greatest need, this is one area which requires immediate funding.

Dr. Moffatt

I thank Senator Costello for raising this matter. Responsibility for providing services to this young girl rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority and ordinarily the matter would be referred to the chief executive officer who would inform the Deputy of the outcome. However, given the special circumstances in this case, inquiries have been made with the ERHA and the Minister has been advised that the person was placed on a category II assessment waiting list in 1994. High priority cases, category I, are dealt with on a priority basis. However, when clients were being called for assessment in 1999 this young person's name was omitted due to an oversight. Once the matter was brought to the attention of the authority, it indicated that the person will be assessed as soon as possible to determine priority of need for treatment and she will be placed on the treatment waiting list in the position that would have prevailed had the oversight not occurred.

I very much regret the unnecessary delay which occurred in this instance and I hope the young person will be dealt with as quickly as possible. The ERHA also regrets the delay and informed me that it has no record of this matter being brought to its attention.

The Minister is very concerned at the long waiting lists for orthodontic treatment generally and has asked the health boards to bring forward proposals to make an immediate significant impact on those lists. An additional investment of £5.3 million has been approved for orthodontic services this year, of which £3.7 million is to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. The ERHA has been allocated an additional £2.34 million for development of its orthodontic service this year. The additional funding will enable the authority to recruit additional orthodontic staff and provide additional services from private practitioners at approved rates.

The Minister hopes that this and other initiatives which he is taking in this area will greatly improve the current level of orthodontic services.

The Seanad adjourned at 4.40 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 20 February 2001.