Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

The annual report of the HSE south orthodontic service for Cork and Kerry in 2007 makes very depressing reading. It reflects the totally inadequate service in respect of orthodontic treatment in the region. The report refers to serious structural and equipment deficiencies in HSE south and the lack of apparent will to do anything about it.

As of last December, 1,049 young people in Kerry are on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment, 42 of whom have been waiting since 2002. A total of 126 people have been waiting since 2003 and 224 people have been waiting since 2007. There are 2,299 people on the waiting list in Cork-North Lee and Cork-South Lee, while in west Cork 2,002 are on the waiting list. In respect of those looked after by St. Finbarr's Hospital, a total of 3,555 people are involved. This is not the whole story because north Cork is now looked after by Cork University Hospital.

Overall, the waiting list for orthodontic treatment in the southern area has increased by 246 patients from December 2006 to December 2007. The waiting list for orthodontic assessment — an assessment to determine a child's eligibility for orthodontic treatment — was 3,071. However, owing to the fact that patients aged 12 years and over are the only patients officially placed on the waiting list, approximately 3,000 children have been referred for orthodontic assessment but have been excluded from the assessment waiting list by the protocols laid down by management.

In October 2006, two senior dental surgeons left the orthodontic service to further their education in orthodontics at the dental school and hospital in Cork. The decision by management to suppress these posts has led to a significant increase in the number of patients awaiting orthodontic treatment. It is reasonable to assume that the 246 patients, most of whom have been waiting since 2002 and 2003, failed to receive orthodontic treatment in 2007 as a direct result of the decision by management to suppress the two posts for senior orthodontists. Those waiting in Kerry since 2002 and 2003 would be treated at this stage.

In December 2006, the number of patients under orthodontic treatment was 3,400. However, this figure has not changed in the returns to the Department of Health and Children since 2003. This indicates that this figure was an arbitrary one. It is clear that the number of patients under orthodontic treatment has significantly diminished. The loss of the two senior dental surgeons has not only affected the number of patients under treatment but has seriously affected morale within the orthodontic unit. For example, the clinics in Tralee had to be reduced from three days to two days per week at the request of line management. In January 2007, the HSE directed that there should be no further treatment for any new patients in Kerry. It is clear that the decision of management to suppress the two senior dental posts and to interfere with access to the dental surgery in Tralee has had a devastating effect on the orthodontic unit's ability to reduce the number of patients currently awaiting orthodontic treatment in Kerry.

It is anticipated that the Cork and Kerry region will apply for the appointment of a second consultant and it is proposed that this consultant be placed in the new centre proposed for Cork-North Lee and Kerry. This new consultant should be housed in the new dental service that will be provided at St. Finian's Hospital in Killarney. This individual could cater for the needs of patients in Kerry and west Cork. If a second consultant orthodontist is appointed, which should happen, the appointment should be for the Kerry region. That consultant orthodontist should be assigned to the new unit at St. Finian's Hospital in Killarney.

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