Vol. 547 No. 3
213 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children the moneys allocated to the Western Health Board for orthodontic treatment in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002; and the length of time people are on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment in the Western Health Board area. [3216/02]
For orthodontic services in the Western Health Board, WHB, my Department has provided additional ongoing funding of €0.089 million in 1999, €0.190 million in 2000 and €0.628 million in 2001. This brings the total budget for the service in the board to €1.863 million approximately in 2002.
The chief executive officer of the WHB has informed me that at the end of the December 2001 quarter, there was a reduction of 574 patients on the board's treatment waiting list in comparison with the corresponding figure in September 2000. There is no waiting time for category A patients, those requiring priority treatment. The waiting time for treatment for category B patients, patients with less severe problems than category A patients, is 42 to 48 months. The chief executive officer of the WHB has also informed me that at the end of the December 2001 quarter, there were 1,511 patients in 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.
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. The additional funding of €0.628 million allocated to the Western Health Board in 2001 for orthodontic services includes €0.533 million 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 last year.
Ultimately, I expect that these combined developments will further increase the number of patients in orthodontic treatment in the board.
