Health Services Provision

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Questions (476)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

476. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting for an assessment and the number of children waiting for treatment with the orthodontics service of the Health Service Executive with a breakdown based on each HSE region, including Dublin north east; and if he will report on the average waiting times for patients seeking referrals and treatment with the orthodontics service. [37173/14]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that in up to 5% of cases it is necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need i.e. Grade 5 or Grade 4 are provided with treatment by the HSE. Information on waiting times is collated by the HSE by region and for the intervals as shown below. The most recent information on assessment and treatment waiting lists relates to the second quarter of 2014.

Waiting time for assessment	1 - 6 months	7 - 12 months	13 - 24 months	>24 months	TOTAL
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster	2,030	1	0	0	2,031
HSE Dublin North East	397	556	0	0	953
HSE South	1,203	396	109	12	1,720
HSE West	1,606	268	62	18	1,954
TOTAL	5,236	1,221	171	30	6,658

Waiting time from assessment to commencement of treatment	1 - 6 months	7 - 12 months	13 - 24 months	25-48 months	Over 48 months	TOTAL
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster	1,133	779	1,060	1,261	87	4,320
HSE Dublin North East	163	626	997	1,252	748	3,786
HSE South	650	439	946	1,333	9	3,377
HSE West	1,257	1,220	1,496	1,010	52	5,035
TOTAL	3,203	3,064	4,499	4,856	896	16,518