The provision of orthodontic services is a matter for the health boards/authority 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. The grade of specialist in orthodontics has been created in the health board orthodontic service. In 2003, my Department and the health boards funded 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 in 2001. Thus, there is an aggregate of 19 dentists in specialist training for orthodontics. 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.
Furthermore, the commitment of the Department to training development is manifested in the funding provided to both the training of specialist clinical staff and the recruitment of a professor in orthodontics for the Cork Dental School. This appointment at the school will facilitate the development of an approved training programme leading to specialist qualification in orthodontics. The chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board has reported that the professor commenced duty on 1 December 2003. In recognition of the importance of this post at Cork Dental School my Department has given approval in principle to a proposal from the school to further substantially improve the training facilities there for orthodontics. This project should see the construction of a large orthodontic unit and support facilities; it will ultimately support an enhanced teaching and treatment service to the wider region under the leadership of the professor of orthodontics.
Orthodontic Initiative funding of €4.698 million was provided to the health boards/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.
In June 2002, my Department provided additional funding of €5 million from the treatment purchase fund to health boards/authority specifically for the purchase of orthodontic treatment. This funding is enabling boards to provide both additional sessions for existing staff and purchase treatment from private specialist orthodontic practitioners.
The chief executive officers of the boards/authority have informed my Department of the following information on their orthodontic waiting lists as at the end of June 2004 quarter:
|
Assessment Waiting List
|
Treatment Waiting List
|
Health Board
|
|
Average waiting time (months)
|
Category A
|
Average waiting time (months)
|
Category B
|
Average waiting time (months)
|
SWAHB
|
382
|
3-6
|
784
|
< 10
|
517
|
< 12
|
ECAHB
|
130
|
< 3
|
37
|
< 6
|
183
|
< 18
|
NAHB
|
257
|
3-6
|
125
|
< 12
|
2,249
|
< 24
|
MHB
|
228
|
4
|
Nil
|
No waiting time
|
187
|
12
|
MWHB
|
2,784
|
24-36
|
Nil
|
No waiting time
|
519
|
24-36
|
NEHB
|
Nil
|
No waiting time
|
6
|
1.5-2
|
286
|
12-18
|
NWHB
|
1,999
|
5.5
|
223
|
14
|
1,081
|
32.6
|
SEHB
|
122
|
1.5
|
Nil
|
No waiting time
|
667
|
20
|
SHB
|
2,972
|
According to date of birth. Currently 1990
|
Nil
|
No waiting time
|
3,172
|
42-48
|
WHB
|
558
|
11
|
Nil
|
No waiting time
|
866
|
38
|
Patients in category A require immediate treatment and include those with congenital abnormalities of the jaws such as cleft lip and palate, and patients with major skeletal discrepancies between the sizes of the jaws. Patients in category B have less severe problems than category A patients.
The chief executive officers of the boards/authority have also informed my Department of the following number of patients currently in treatment:
ERHA
|
MHB
|
MWHB
|
NEHB
|
NWHB
|
SEHB
|
SHB
|
WHB
|
3,701
|
2,155
|
1,637
|
2,652
|
3,044
|
2,104
|
3,400
|
1,543
|
Children in treatment in the health board orthodontic service receive between 18 to 24 appointments over the course of their treatment period of approximately two years.
Finally, the chief executive officers of the health boards/authority have informed my Department that at the end of the June quarter 2004, there were 20,236 children receiving orthodontic treatment in the public orthodontic service. This means that there are nearly twice as many children getting orthodontic treatment as there are children waiting to be treated.