Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:525 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the current provision for orthodontic services in the Eastern Regional Health Authority administrative area. [13254/02]
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
The provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, is the statutory responsibility of the authority in the first instance.
I have taken a range of important measures to improve the capacity of the public orthodontic services and place it on a sound long-term footing. 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.
Following agreement at the Health Service Employers Agency, a new grade of specialist in orthodontics has been created in the public orthodontic service. This agreement resulted from complex and time-consuming negotiations. The introduction of the specialist grade will have a tremendous impact on the future delivery of orthodontics and will address the issues of recruitment and retention of qualified staff.
In addition, four dentists from the ERHA commenced their training last October for specialist in orthodontics qualifications. My Department has provided €0.405 million to the authority in 2002 for specialist in orthodontics training. The general objective of these training programmes is to educate dentists to become specialists in orthodontics with a broad academic background and experience in different clinical treatment methods. They are made possible by co-operation between health boards, consultants and dental teaching institutions. Discussions on providing an additional training course to commence this year are also under way.
In order to enable the achievement of greater caseloads, the Dental Council was requested to produce a scheme to recognise auxiliary dental workers in orthodontics. This grade – to be known as orthodontic therapist – will act as a support to the consultant orthodontist, specialists and other dentists working in the orthodontic unit thus enabling a greater volume of treatment. I expect the Dental Council to submit a final scheme for my approval shortly.
My Department has also funded the appointment of a director of specialist training for the Irish committee for specialist training in dentistry through the post graduate medical and dental board. The director has taken up duty and is playing a pivotal role in assisting the different agencies involved in dental specialist training programmes.
In the short-term, I have funded an orthodontic initiative to ease current pressures on the system. Additional funding of €6.729 million was approved for orthodontic services last year of which €4.698 million was to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. Additional funding of €2.971 million was provided to the ERHA in 2001 for orthodontic services of which €2.044 million was for its orthodontic initiative. This has enabled the authority to recruit additional staff – including two consultant orthodontists – and develop new treatment facilities at Loughlinstown and at the regional orthodontic unit located at St. James's Hospital. My Department has also funded a six-chair orthodontic suite for the Northern Area Health Board. The chief executive officer of the ERHA has informed me that the unit is expected to be operational in October this year and will be located in Blanchardstown.
Furthermore, under this initiative, my Department is exploring with health boards new arrangements for the treatment of patients, both by private specialist orthodontic practitioners and in out-of-hours sessions by health board orthodontists.
The chief executive officer of the ERHA has advised me that at the end of the March 2002 quarter, there were 3,701 persons receiving treatment in the authority's orthodontic service. I am confident that when fully implemented the orthodontic initiative, combined with the structural changes to the orthodontic service, will significantly increase the number of cases in and reduce waiting times for treatment in the ERHA.