Vol. 431 No. 8
4 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the waiting list for treatment by dentists and orthodontists in the Dublin area and, specifically, in the North Strand and Quarry Road health centres of Dublin 1, 3 and 7; and the approximate waiting periods for those on the lists.
In regard to children's services the Eastern Health Board aims to examine all school children in specific classes and to provide treatment as necessary. In effect children are being seen in the primary schools while in 2nd, 4th and 6th classes.
The board have informed me that treatment is provided, if necessary, within a matter of weeks of screening and there are no children on waiting lists.
The Programme for Government provides for the extension of eligibility for dental services to all children under the age of 16 years. The phasing in of extended eligibility will commence later this year.
In regard to adult dental services the board provides a pain treatment service on demand. Delays for routine dental treatment have arisen, however, because of pressure on the board's services and 282 persons are awaiting routine treatment in the Cabra dental clinic and 580 are awaiting treatment in the North Strand dental clinic. The waiting period for routine treatment ranges from 12 to 18 months. Emergency services for the relief of pain is of course available on demand in these clinics.
In regard to orthodonics the board has informed me that at present the waiting period for Category A children, those most in need, is approximately three months. The waiting list for Category B, depending on the severity of the case is between three months and four years.
The Eastern Health Board's current categorised orthodontic waiting list is as follows: Category A, 14; Category B, 66,999. The Eastern Health Board maintains a centralised waiting list for orthodontic treatment. Waiting lists are not maintained on a health centre basis. In total there are approximately 3,500 children receiving orthodontic services in the Eastern Health Board.
The Eastern Health Board is at present drawing up plans to develop their orthodontic services and hope to submit these to my Department in the near future.
The Government has provided £2 million this year for the development of the dental services under the Programme for Government. The introduction of vocational training, as provided under the Programme for Government, for all newly qualified dentists will significantly improve the provision of services to adults. Additional funding will also be devoted this year to the provision of orthodontic treatment which will also result in further improvements in the orthodontic services.
In view of the selective statistics he has given me will the Minister confirm that in the Dublin area there are more than 11,000 children on waiting lists for dental treatment by orthodontists and in excess of 13,000 adults on the waiting list for dental treatment and that this represents a shameful situation affecting children and adults of low income families? Does the Minister accept that this demonstrates yet again that there is a two-tier health service with a readily available service for those who can afford it and long waiting lists for the poor? Will the Minister indicate what he intends to do about this waiting list? For example, is any of the £20 million he recently allocated to deal with waiting lists generally to be spent to ensure that children and adults on the dental waiting lists receive the speedy service to which they are entitled?
The £20 million was a specific target commitment for waiting lists in acute hospitals for a range of procedures. It does not include the dental services. I have provided an additional £2 million this year to improve dental services generally. I am not satisfied with the level of dental services available to public patients. I am seeking resources to improve that. One of the measures which is very important in improving orthodontic services in particular is the hiring of consultant orthodontic specialists in each of the health board areas, a process now coming to fruition. They are in the process of training the health board dentists in the speciality of orthodontics. That is already having an impact. Obviously further results are required. I will be only too happy to impact on the waiting lists particularly to see orthodontists, a very expensive speciality, as soon as those resources become available.
In the North Strand health centre there is a four year waiting list for children needing orthodontic treatment. The children now being dealt with in that centre went on the waiting list in 1989. Is the Minister aware that there are only sessional orthodontists servicing that health centre on a part-time basis? There are half days during the week when nobody in the clinic is available to see those children. Will the Minister confirm in relation to the area covering the North Stand health centre, that the permanent post of principal dental officer has been vacant for almost four years? Will the Minister investigate this and ensure that those on the waiting lists in this health centre which services a very disadvantage inner city area get the service to which they are entitled and which they cannot get otherwise, as they cannot afford it?
If the Deputy accuses me of being selective in giving information, he is being extremely selective.
I am very specific.
For category A children, whose teeth are the most severely distorted, the waiting list is three months. For category B, the less severe category, depending on the severity of the condition, the waiting list ranges from three months to four years. Four years is the extreme example. I would not like the Deputy to think that every child has to wait for four years.
The majority have to.
That is not the case. I will take on board all the points the Deputy has made and I will write to him on the specifics.
