Dental Services Waiting Lists

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Questions (1119, 1120, 1189, 1190)

Seán Kyne

Question:

1119. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the waiting time for children and young adults in need of dental treatment including surgery and orthodontic work. [46255/13]

Seán Kyne

Question:

1120. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the dental check-up programme operating in Irish schools, including the frequency of check-ups and the procedure followed in the event of follow-up treatment being required. [46256/13]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1189. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for dental treatment for children and teenagers under the free dental scheme for children; the children and services covered by this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46754/13]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1190. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if all primary school children still receive free dental check-ups as part of a national programme; the frequency of these check-ups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46755/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1119, 1120, 1189 and 1190 together.

The Public Dental Service of the HSE provides dental services for children up to 16 years of age and persons with special needs through its dental clinics. All HSE dental clinics prioritise emergency care for children up to 16 years of age, treatment for special needs patients and screening of children aged from 11 to 13 years, including referral for orthodontic services where necessary. After screening, follow-up treatment is provided where necessary. Other services, including screening of children 6 to 8 years, are provided but may be deferred in clinics where there is pressure on resources. The HSE Public Dental Service has recently been re-structured. It is intended that the new arrangements will facilitate standardisation of services available nationally.

The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines called the Modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need, i.e. Grade 5 or Grade 4 are provided with treatment. At the time of assessment those with urgent clinical need are prioritised. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that up to 5% of those on the waiting list for treatment need to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. The most recent information on waiting times relates to the third quarter of 2013:

Waiting time from assessment to commencement of treatment (Grade 4)	1 - 6 months	7 - 12 months	13 - 24 months	2 - 3 years	Over 4 years	TOTAL
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster	243	390	685	375	174	1,867
HSE West	711	259	1,183	343	23	2,519
HSE South	91	133	152	933	237	1,546
HSE Dublin North East	76	163	408	766	436	1,849
TOTAL	1,121	945	2,428	2,417	870	7,781

Waiting time from assessment to commencement of treatment (Grade 5)	1 - 6 months	7 - 12 months	13 - 24 months	2 - 3 years	Over 4 years	TOTAL
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster	452	310	465	271	98	1,596
HSE West	544	315	879	232	26	1,996
HSE South	536	333	392	307		1,568
HSE Dublin North East	129	217	486	452	37	1,321
TOTAL	1,661	1,175	2,222	1,262	161	6,481

The HSE has commissioned an independent review of orthodontic services. The outcome of this review, which is near completion, will give guidance as to what changes will be desirable to provide the best possible model of care delivery, given the current resources available and future demand for services.

Waiting list initiatives introduced in 2011 have meant that dental services dependent on acute service capacity have been assessed in accordance with waiting times and not just on numbers waiting. Intravenous (IV) sedation clinics have been put in place in 4 hospitals using HSE dental staff who have undertaken Diplomas in IV Sedation and Relative Analgesia. This will be extended further in 2014. It is intended that more adults with special needs will be treated using IV sedation rather than general anaesthetic, thus relieving pressure on hospital services and waiting lists.