Michael Ring
Ceist:620 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment in the Western Health Board; and the number on the waiting list for assessment. [2122/02]
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
The provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons is the responsibility of the health boards and information regarding numbers placed on assessment and treatment waiting lists is maintained by the boards. The chief executive officer of the Western Health Board has informed me that the numbers of patients awaiting assessment and treatment in the health board at the end of the December 2001 quarter were as follows:
|
Health board |
Assessmentwaiting list |
Treatmentwaiting list |
|
Western |
509 |
1,605 |
The chief executive officer has also informed me that at the end of the same quarter, there were 1,511 patients in orthodontic treatment in the health board.
Michael Ring
Ceist:621 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the consultants in the Western Health Board region have to assess as well as treat people on the orthodontic waiting list; if staff have been lost; if so the reason therefor; and if this position will be re-advertised and filled. [2123/02]
The provision of orthodontic services is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance. The chief executive officer of the Western Health Board has informed me that as the consultant orthodontist prioritises the severity of need of patients for orthodontic treatment, he carries out all assessments using guidelines issued by my Department. The waiting list for treatment in the board arose as a result of staff losses between 1995 and 1999. In fact, between mid-1996 and mid-1997 the board had no consultant orthodontist; consequently, during this period almost no patients were taken off the waiting list for treatment even though patients were still being added to it.
I have initiated a range of measures to substantially increase the capacity of the orthodontic services and reduce the waiting times for orthodontic treatment. Structural changes are being introduced into the orthodontic service, such as the creation of the grade of specialist in orthodontics, the development of specialist training programmes and the creation of an auxiliary grade of orthodontic therapist to work in the orthodontic area. Two dentists from the Western Health Board are currently in training at the Dublin Dental School and Hospital for specialist dentist in orthodontics qualifications. Both are due to qualify in June this year. Once they achieve their specialist qualification, they will be in a position to take over responsibility for a larger number of patients and further reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment.
Additional funding of 0.628 million was allocated to the Western Health Board in 2001 for orthodontic services of which 0.533 million was for an orthodontic initiative in the board. The chief executive officer of the Western Health Board has informed me that a specialist in orthodontics has been recruited and commenced working in the board's orthodontic unit in late November. The board has also made arrangements with private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat patients. The chief executive officer has also informed me that at the end of the December 2001 quarter, there were 1,511 patients in orthodontic treatment in the board. This is an increase of 83 patients in orthodontic treatment in comparison with the corresponding figure at the end of the June 2001 quarter. I expect that the number of patients in orthodontic treatment will continue to increase as the measures in the orthodontic initiative that I announced last year take effect.
Michael Ring
Ceist:622 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people who have been treated privately for orthodontics with the treatment being paid for by the Western Health Board; and the cost of this treatment. [2124/02]
The provision of orthodontic services is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance. The chief executive of the Western Health Board has informed me that 250 patients have been referred to private specialist orthodontic practitioners for their orthodontic treatment at an estimated cost of approximately 0.762 million. The chief executive officer has also informed me that at the end of the December 2001 quarter there were 1,511 patients in orthodontic treatment in the board. This is an increase of 83 patients in orthodontic treatment in comparison with the corresponding figure at the end of the June 2001 quarter. I expect that the number of patients in orthodontic treatment will continue to increase as the measures in the orthodontic initiative that I announced last year take effect.