Vol. 543 No. 2
402 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children in County Wicklow on the orthodontic waiting list; the reason children are being told that they will have to wait between two and four years for treatment at St. James's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26391/01]
The provision of orthodontic treatment to patients in County Wicklow is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority – ERHA – in the first instance. I recognise that the waiting times for orthodontic treatment are unacceptably long. At the invitation of my Department, a group representative of health board management and consultant orthodontists reviewed the orthodontic services. The objective of this review was to ensure equity in the provision of orthodontic treatment throughout the health boards. Following this review structural changes are being introduced in the orthodontic services. These changes include the creation of the grade of specialist in orthodontics, the development of specialist training programmes and the creation of a grade of auxiliary dental worker to work in the orthodontic area.
Agreement has now been reached at the Health Service Employers Agency on the creation of the specialist in orthodontics grade in the orthodontic service. In addition, four dentists for the Eastern Regional Health Authority commenced their training in October 2001 for specialist in orthodontics qualifications and discussions on providing an additional training course to commence in 2002 are also under way. Through the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board, I have also funded the appointment of a director of specialist training for the Irish Committee for Specialist Training in Dentistry. The postgraduate director will assume his duties in January 2002. His role will be to promote and ensure that co-ordinated postgraduate training in dentistry of a high standard is provided.
However, it will be some time before these structural changes impact significantly on service levels. Consequently, I asked health boards to develop proposals to make an immediate significant impact on their waiting lists. An additional investment of £5.3 million – 6.729 million – has been approved for orthodontic services this year, of which £3.7 million – 4.698 million – is to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. This will enable health boards to recruit additional staff and engage the services of private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat patients. The ERHA has been allocated an additional £2.34 million – 2.971 million – this year for orthodontic services of which £1.61 million – 2.044 million – was for the orthodontic initiative.
403 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will put in place a scheme whereby orthodontic patients can be treated privately and payment made by the health board. [26392/01]
The provision of orthodontic treatment is a matter for the health boards in the first instance. Under the orthodontic initiative, my Department recently approved a proposed scheme from the Mid-Western Health Board to engage the services of private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat patients. This scheme will facilitate similar arrangements in other boards.
404 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow has been on the Eastern Health Board waiting list for orthodontic treatment; when he will receive this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26393/01]
As the provision of orthodontic services to eligible persons in County Wicklow is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, I have asked the chief executive officer of that authority to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
405 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow has been on the Eastern Health Board waiting list for orthodontic treatment; when he will receive this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26394/01]
As the provision of orthodontic services to eligible persons in County Wicklow is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, I have asked the chief executive officer of that authority to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
406 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow has been on the Eastern Health Board waiting list for orthodontic treatment; when he will receive this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26395/01]
As the provision of orthodontic services to eligible persons in County Wicklow is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, I have asked the chief executive officer of that authority to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
407 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow will have to wait for orthodontic treatment; if she will be dealt with more quickly if she transfers to Loughlinstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26396/01]
As the provision of orthodontic services to eligible persons in County Wicklow is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, I have asked the chief executive officer of that authority to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
