Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address concerns and queries (details supplied) regarding orthodontic treatment. [41013/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The number of patients on the orthodontic treatment waiting list in the Midlands area at the end of Q2 of 2015 was 1,879.

Under EU Directive 201/24/EU, now commonly referred to as the Cross Border Directive (CBH), it is open to persons entitled to public patient health care in Ireland to choose to avail of that health care in another EU or EEA country or Switzerland. Assistance is provided by the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive Department of the HSE and further information is available on the HSE's website. Access to treatment under the CBD is based on the referral of the treating clinician, therefore the HSE has concentrated on increasing awareness on this initiative amongst those clinicians. 18 public patients have received reimbursement for provision of their orthodontic care under the CBD in Northern Ireland.

The pilot scheme in the Dublin North East area involves the up-skilling of one member of the dental hygienist staff and one member of the dental nursing staff to work as orthodontic therapists. Orthodontic therapists are dental healthcare professionals who carry out certain parts of orthodontic treatment work under the supervision of an orthodontist. It is intended that some of the work currently carried out by orthodontists would be carried out by orthodontic therapists, thereby enabling the orthodontic team to treat more patients.

Value for money is a key factor in the procurement process for the provision of certain orthodontic treatments by a panel of independent practitioners under contract to the HSE. Tenders are currently being evaluated and it is expected that contracts will be awarded by the end of 2015. The costs will be available after the process has been completed.