Michael Ring
Ceist:463 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when he expects a dentist to be appointed to the Belmullet area, County Mayo. [21779/98]
Written Answers. - Dental Services.
Michael Ring
Ceist:464 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when there was a dentist last appointed in Belmullet, County Mayo. [21780/98]
Michael Ring
Ceist:465 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the person who is currently administering orthodontic treatment to school children and medical card holders in Belmullet, County Mayo. [21781/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 463, 464 and 465 together.
The appointment of dentists to the Belmullet area and the provision of dental and orthodontic services to eligible persons in the area is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board.
I have had inquiries made of the Western Health Board. I understand that a competition has recently been advertised in the press for a dentist in the Belmullet region with a closing date of mid-October. Arrangements are being made by the board to interview interested candidates.
I understand that the last permanent appointment of a dentist in the Belmullet area was in 1994. That person left the service in 1995. A temporary dental officer was appointed in January 1998, this person left the service in August 1998.
I understand that the Western Health Board provides secondary care orthodontic treatment services for its area through the consultant led orthodontic services at Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway.
I have been advised by the board that the normal procedure that operates in the board's area is that school children are examined in sixth class by the board's dental officers attached to the local community care dental service. Depending on the outcome of this screening process, children are then referred by the dental officer for further specialist orthodontic assessment by the professional staff attached to the regional orthodontic unit in Galway. A subsidiary assessment clinic is held in Claremorris for the convenience of Mayo patients.
There are a total of 18 primary schools in the Belmullet area. Nine of these schools are currently serviced by two health board dental officers covering the area. School children attending these nine schools will be referred for orthodontic assessment in the normal way following the screening process conducted by the schools' dental service during sixth class. The remaining nine schools in the Belmullet area are serviced by a different dental team but due to the fact that a post is currently vacant, operational difficulties are currently being experienced in providing dental screening programmes in the schools.
As I have already stated the board is endeavouring to have the post filled as urgently as possible. In the meantime, special arrangements are being put in place to ensure that the children in sixth class are screened in the normal way. The board's principal dental officer in Mayo is making arrangements in conjunction with the board's consultant orthodontist, to have these sixth class children examined and referred for further orthodontic specialist assessment as the need arises. This will ensure that the children in all 18 schools in the Belmullet area have equity of access to the orthodontic service. Depending on the outcome of the orthodontic assessment, children will then be put on the treatment waiting list in accordance with the qualifying eligibility criteria prescribed under my Department's guidelines.