Minister says NTPF could cover orthodontic care

THE MINISTER for Health Mary Harney has suggested that the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) may be used to secure orthodontic treatment for patients in some parts of the State who are experiencing long waiting lists.

The Minister told the Oireachtas committee on Health and Children last week that the NTPF was not geared to providing ongoing forms of treatment such as is required in the case of orthodontics.

However, she said that in the early days of the NTPF some orthodontic work was carried out and that she was "open to that" if possible.

"In specific cases and in some regions of the country where there are particularly long waiting lists, we may be able to use the fund to deal with some issues. I intend to discuss that matter with my officials and with the fund administrators," she said.

A HSE review group which reported at the end of 2006 found that 6,577 patients were on the waiting list for orthodontic assessment and more than 10,000 patients were awaiting treatment.

Internal documents drawn up by the Department of Health for ministers last year estimated that it would cost €4.5 million between 2007 and 2009 if the orthodontic waiting lists were to be tackled via the NTPF.

Ms Harney told the Oireachtas Committee that an overall review of dental treatment was under way and that this would be completed by the summer.

"Hopefully, it will be an innovative policy review," she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Harney strongly criticised a number of hospitals for their failure to refer patients on lengthy waiting lists to the NTPF.

"Four hospitals in the country account for 50 per cent of the waiting lists and they are very poor referrers to the fund. One of these is Donegal and another is Tallaght.

"I am concerned that while there is treatment available for patients, they are not being referred for it. This is not acceptable. I have spoken at length to the administrators of the fund and to [ HSE chief executive] Prof Drumm on the matter.

"We must decide together how we can get the required treatment for the patients. They are the people who come first,"