Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2004
191 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the categories of persons who are receiving orthodontic treatment; the breakdown of the categories that are being treated; and the categories that are available for patients in respect of orthodontic treatment. [29997/04]
View answerThe provision of orthodontic services is the statutory responsibility of the health boards in the first instance. The aim of my Department is to develop the treatment capacity of orthodontics in a sustainable way over the longer term. Given the potential level of demand for orthodontic services, the provision of those services will continue to be based on prioritisation of cases based on treatment need as happens under the existing orthodontic guidelines. The guidelines were issued in 1985 and are intended to enable health boards to identify in a consistent way those in greatest need and to commence timely treatment for them. Patients in category A require immediate treatment and include those with congenital abnormalities of the jaw, 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 and are placed on the orthodontic treatment waiting list. Patients in category C have less severe problems than in category B.
The number of cases treated is dependent on the level of resources available in terms of qualified staff in an area. This is reflected in the treatment waiting list. The provision of orthodontic services is currently severely restricted due to the limited availability of trained specialist clinical staff to assess and treat patients. Consequently, a category C waiting list may not be maintained in some health boards.
