Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1992

Vol. 424 No. 8

Written Answers. - Eastern Health Board Orthodontic Services.

Vincent Brady

Ceist:

182 Mr. V. Brady asked the Minister for Health the arrangements which have been made with private practitioners to deal with emergency specialist orthodontic services for those on the Eastern Health Board orthodontic waiting list; and the number of cases which have been dealt with under these new arrangements since the Minister's statement earlier this year.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

The Eastern Health Board have the services of two consultant orthodontists doing two orthodontic clinics per week. In addition the board have the services of nine dentists with specialist qualifications in orthodontics providing a total of sixteen sessions per week.

In the period July 1990 to August 1992 a total of 5,012 patients completed treatment, or were undergoing treatment, with the involvement of these personnel.

Since 1990 my Department have made a special additional allocation available to the Eastern Health Board specifically for the development of orthodontic services. The special additional allocation provided in 1991 for this purpose was £292,500. The Eastern Health Board's original allocation for 1992 includes a repeat of this special provision for the continuing development of the orthodontic services.

The Eastern Health Board are at present making arrangements for the shared appointment of consultant orthodontists with the Dublin Dental Hospital and the interviewing of candidates was held recently. In addition to their own direct clinical involvement, a primary task of the consultant orthodontist will be to organise and co-ordinate orthodontic training to specialist and sub-specialist levels for health board dental staff which will enable them to provide a greatly increased volume of service.