Vol. 545 No. 5
95 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons awaiting orthodontic treatment in the Eastern Regional Health Authority; the steps being taken to reduce the waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30911/01]
The provision of orthodontic services is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance.
I have initiated a range of measures to substantially increase the capacity of the orthodontic service and reduce the waiting times for orthodontic treatment.
Structural changes are being introduced within the orthodontic service. These changes include the creation of the grade of specialist in orthodontics, the development of specialist training programmes and the creation of a grade of auxiliary dental worker to work in the orthodontic area.
Agreement has now been reached at the Health Service Employers Agency on the creation of the specialist in orthodontics grade in the orthodontic service. In addition, four dentists from the ERHA commenced training in October for specialist dentist in orthodontics qualifications. Discussions on providing an additional training course to commence in 2002 are also under way.
My Department has 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 will play a pivotal role in assisting the different agencies involved in dental specialist training programmes.
It will be some time before these structural changes impact significantly on service levels. Consequently, I asked health boards to develop proposals to make an immediate significant impact on their waiting lists. An additional investment of £2.340 million or 2.971 million has been approved for the ERHA for orthodontic services this year, of which £1.610 million or 2.044 million will fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. This will enable the authority to recruit additional staff. It has also developed an additional six surgery facility and a five surgery facility at Loughlinstown regional orthodontic unit and St. James's Hospital orthodontic unit, respectively.
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 ERHA's chief executive officer has informed me that at the end of the September quarter there were 904 patients awaiting treatment, 11,781 patients awaiting assessment by a consultant orthodontist and 3,288 patients were receiving treatment.
I am confident that when fully implemented this initiative, combined with the structural changes to the orthodontic service, will significantly increase the number of patients in and reduce waiting times for treatment.
