Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.

John Perry

Ceist:

482 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are over 600 on the waiting list in the North-Western Health Board in the lower category for orthodontic treatment; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the reason for the difficulty in recruiting specialised orthodontic personnel is mainly due to the fact that there is over £20,000 in salary difference between the Eastern Health Board and the Midlands Health Board and that there is a huge disparity in the school dentistry salary in the Eastern Health Board and the Midlands Health Board; the reason for this disparity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17844/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

I understand from returns received from the North-Western Health Board that there are currently 1,843 persons on the board's waiting list for orthodontic treatment. Dentists with postgraduate qualifications in orthodontics are employed by health boards as senior clinical dental surgeon which is a recognised grade in the health board dental service. However, I understand that in the Eastern Health Board a special arrangement exists with regard to a number of dentists with the M. Orth qualification employed by the board. These dentists, five in number, were employed by the board on a sessional basis some years ago. In the past, the board has sought to integrate them with the board's consultant led service. This involved negotiations with those dentists with regard to their contractual time commitment and the agreement of an appropriate salary. All five are now employed on a full time basis with the board on an interim salary personal to the individuals involved.

The Eastern Health Board states that these arrangements are an interim measure pending the outcome of proposals for the establishment of specialist posts in orthodontists at a national level, when the salary scales approved for these specialist posts will be applied. I understand the position in the Midland Health Board is that in the absence of a consultant led orthodontic service the board has arrangements with orthodontists in private practice who provide services on a fee per item basis.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

484 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason there are long delays to determine eligibility for orthodontic treatment through the public health service; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the average waiting time for assessment is three years and 10 months in the Eastern Health Board area; if children often pass the most appropriate age to commence treatment while on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17846/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The provision of orthodontic services to eligible persons is the statutory responsibility of the health boards. Health boards continue to develop their orthodontic services in accordance with the Dental Health Action Plan. Waiting times for assessment-treatment can vary between boards. Since the development of a consultant led orthodontic service in the Eastern Health Board in 1996 there has been significant improvements in the level of service being provided. In September 1996 the average waiting time for orthodontic assessment-treatment was five years and ten months. The average waiting time has now been reduced to three years and ten months. A desirable target objective for the orthodontic service would be that no child should be on a treatment waiting list for longer than two years. A number of health boards are close to this target objective.

Ideally orthodontic treatment should be carried out in early adolescence. However, the technology is now so advanced, that most orthodontic treatment can be carried out in adulthood.