Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Orthodontic Services.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

416 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting list in each health board area for orthodontic treatment; if the services of a full-time orthodontist is available in each area; the criteria for qualifying for treatment; his views on the inequity of these qualifying criteria for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21320/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The provision of orthodontic services to elegible persons and the maintenance of waiting lists is the statutory responsibility of the eight regional health boards.

I have been advised by the health boards that the figures for the waiting lists for orthodontic treatment are as follows:

Health Boards	Waiting List for Treatment
Eastern Health Board	Children are called for treatment immediately following assessment. The number of children currently on waiting list for assessment is as follows:
	Category I: No waiting time for assessment or treatment.
	Category II: Waiting list is 6,514
	Category III: Waiting List is 1,500
Midland Health Board	658
Mid-Western Health Board	623
North-Eastern Health Board	2,267
North-Western Health Board	1,251
South-Eastern Health Board	511
Southern Health Board	3,500
Western Health Board	3,656

Each health board has the services of a full-time consultant orthodontist with the exception of the Midland Health Board. The Midland Health Board has endeavoured on several occasions to recruit a consultant orthodontist but to date have been unsuccessful. There are no full-time orthon-dontists in this board but services are provided by sessional orthodontists.

Because of the high cost of fixed appliance orthodontic therapy, health boards can only provide this treatment where a child has a handicapping orthodontic conditon. Children are assessed therefore, in accordance with guidelines drawn up by my Department in 1985 to ensure that resources are used to best advantage and for those most affected or handicapped.

At the suggestion of my Department, an orthodontic review group has been set up by the health boards to examine a range of issues in relation to the orthodontic services including the 1985 guidelines. This group, which includes health board consultant orthodontists, is due to report to the chief executive officers of the health boards in the near future.

The objective of this review is to ensure equity in the provision of orthodontic treatment throughout the health boards having regard to the additional resources provided to health boards over the past few years under the dental health action plan for developments in orthodontic services.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

417 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children waiting for orthodontic treatment in the Eastern Health Board region in categories II and III lists; the additional resources, if any, he will make available to the health boards to expedite the provision of orthodontic treatment to thousands of children awaiting care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21321/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The provision of orthodontic treatment and the maintenance of waiting lists for the Eastern Health Board area is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Health Board.

I have had inquiries made of the Eastern Health Board. I understand that the number of patients currently on the category two waiting list for assessment is 6,514. Those assessed as requiring treatment are facilitated immediately. The number of category three patients is currently 1,500. As outlined in my reply to the Deputy to Question No. 251 on 13 October 1998 the resources currently available for orthodontic services do not permit the treatment of category three patients. However, these patients are being assessed on a phased basis on the overall direction and supervision of the consultant orthodontist to establish the level of their treatment need.

It is the board's intention to extend the regional orthodontic department at St. James's Hospital and to develop a second regional orthodontic department based at Beaumont Hospital.

At the suggestion of my Department, an orthodontic review group has been set up by the health boards to prepare a report and make recommendations on the orthodontic services. This group is due to report to the chief executive officers of the health boards in the near future.

The objective of this review is to ensure equity in the provision of orthodontic treatment throughout the health boards having regard to the additional resources provided to health boards over the past few years under the dental health action plan.