Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Health the progress being made to reduce waiting times for orthodontic services in CHO 4. [5410/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to children who have the greatest level of need and who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. The HSE aims to commence treatment for the majority of patients within two years of assessment with patients with greatest clinical need being prioritised for treatment.

In Cork Kerry Community Healthcare area (CHO 4) children who are assessed as meeting the criteria to be prioritised for treatment, for example, cleft palate or impacted teeth, commence treatment within one month to a year. Other priority cases commence treatment within 18 to 24 months with routine cases usually commencing treatment within 4 years.

In order to help address long waiting times, in 2016, the HSE procured orthodontic services in primary care from a number of private service providers. Under this initiative, 142 patients in Cork/ Kerry were treated and are coming to the end of their treatment.

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare is working to further improve equity of access to its orthodontic service and reduce waiting lists across Cork and Kerry by the introduction of a centralised waiting list, a new IT system, better patient flow processes and, where appropriate, resource realignment.