asked the Minister for Health the number of orthodontists at present employed to provide treatment for patients eligible under the health services in the country; the number in each health board area and in each county; and if he will give a breakdown of the average waiting period for consultation and for treatment by orthodontists under the health services.
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment.
29.
Every dentist is qualified to and provides a certain degree of orthodontic treatment but the more complicated cases require the services of specialists in the field. Six posts of consultant orthodontist have been approved for the health board service but only one such post has been filled to date. However, every effort is being made to recruit suitable persons to fill the five vacant posts. The post that has been filled is the one for the Mid-Western Health Board and the consultant orthodontist is based in Limerick. A certain amount of orthodontic treatment of eligible patients is carried out also by orthodontists on the staff of the Dublin and Cork dental schools. In addition the health boards avail of the services of orthodontists in private practice from time to time to provide treatment for eligible persons. In all health boards, priority in the provision of orthodontic care is granted to children with a handicapping condition such as cleft palate. The average waiting times for consultation and for treatment of non-priority cases by orthodontists are not available on a county basis.
The position in the different health boards is as per the following table.
Orthodontic Treatment
|
Health Board |
Waiting time for consultation |
Waiting time for treatment |
|
Eastern |
6-12 months |
6 months |
|
Midland |
12 months |
12 months |
|
Mid-Western |
13 months |
6-9 months |
|
North-Eastern |
6-18 months |
2 years |
|
North-Western |
6 weeks |
up to 2 years |
|
South-Eastern |
1-5 years for assessment and treatment |
|
|
Southern |
5 weeks-2 years (a) |
8-18 months (a) (b) |
|
Western |
1 year (in Mayo only) |
1½ to 5 years |
(a) excludes Kerry where children are treated on a basis of seniority.
(b) Also excludes West Cork Community Care Area where treatment follows directly upon assessment.
These figures are not necessarily comparable since the basis of compiling waiting lists varies between health boards.