Vol. 503 No. 5
18 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he will take to reduce the waiting list for orthodontic treatment in the Southern Health Board area where, currently, over 3,200 young people have to wait over two years and four months before they can expect treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7574/99]
My Department has made additional resources available to the Southern Health Board for the development of its orthodontic services in accordance with the dental health action plan. The board has now a consultant led orthodontic service in place. Six dentists with appropriate support staff provide orthodontic treatment under the overall direction and supervision of the consultant. The service is based at St. Finbarr's Hospital in Cork city. Satellite units have been developed in Mallow, Bantry and Tralee. The board provides a service of high quality and achieves a high level of service.
The health boards are responsible for the provision of orthodontic services and the maintenance of waiting lists. I have had inquiries made of the Southern Health Board concerning the treatment waiting lists in its area. I have been advised by the board that currently the board can commence the treatment of approximately 1,200 new patients every year. However 1,500 – 1,600 new patients become eligible for treatment every year. At present the board is commencing the treatment of patients that were placed on the list for treatment in August-September 1996 and just over 4,000 children are awaiting orthodontic treatment.
At the suggestion of my Department, an orthodontic review group was set up by the health boards to prepare a report and make recommendations on the orthodontic services. The objective of this review is to ensure equity in the provision of orthodontic treatment throughout the health boards having regard to the additional resources provided to health boards over the past few years under the dental health action plan. The group has recently made a report to the chief executive officers of the health boards who now have the report under discussion with my Department.
