Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
Enda Kenny
Ceist:
101
Mr. Kenny
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of applications for orthodontic treatment in the Western Health Board area; the waiting time for treatment; the comparative position three and five years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9545/02]
The provision of orthodontic treatment is the statutory responsibility of the health boards in the first instance.
Under the Health Act, 1970, a child is eligible for orthodontic treatment on the basis of defects noted at a school health examination carried out while the child is attending national school. There is no application processper se as children in specific classes in national school, usually in second, fourth and sixth class, are dentally screened and referred for orthodontic review as necessary.
The historical difficulties encountered by the Western Health Board (WHB) in delivering orthodontic services were not inconsiderable. Its current backlog of cases is largely derived from staff losses incurred between 1995 and 1999. In mid-1996, the board lost its consultant orthodontist leaving it with no consultant cover until mid 1997 when one was recruited. Consequently, during that period, almost no patients were taken off the board's waiting list for treatment even though patients were still been added to it. This adverse staffing situation inevitably increased future waiting times for treatment.
However, for 1997, the chief executive officer of the WHB reported that 3,035 persons were awaiting orthodontic treatment. The position at the end of the December 2001 quarter was that there were 1,605 category B persons waiting for treatment. This is a reduction of 1,430 and represents clear and unambiguous progress by the regional orthodontic unit there in addressing its waiting list.
The chief executive officer of the board has further informed me that at the end of the same quarter, there was no waiting time for category A patients – those requiring priority treatment – and that the treatment waiting time for category B patients – patients with less severe problems than category A patients – is 42 to 48 months. The corresponding figures for 1998 and 1996, reported by the chief executive officer to my Department, are 30-36 and 18 months respectively.
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.
Currently, two dentists from the Western Health Board are in training at the Dublin Dental School and Hospital for specialist in orthodontics qualifications. Both are due to qualify in June this year. Furthermore, 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. The board has also engaged the services of private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat patients.
Ultimately, I expect that these combined developments will further increase the number of persons in orthodontic treatment and reduce the number of category B persons awaiting treatment in the board.
