asked the Minister for Health the reason for the very long delay in providing dental treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Galway who is a medical card holder.
Written Answers. - Delays in Treatment.
259.
The person in question applied to the health board on 2 October 1980 for dental services and was issued with an authorisation on 10 October to attend the private dentist she had selected under the choice-of-dentist scheme.
The health board have not heard further from the person in question since then. In the circumstances, that person should now contact the board if she has been unable to obtain services from the dentist covered by her authorisation.
266.
asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in providing orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
268.
asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway who is a medical card holder can hope to receive orthodontic treatment.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 268 together.
The delay in providing orthodontic treatment for the person referred to in the question is due to the extent of the waiting list for orthodontic treatment. The health board are not in a position to state when the treatment of that patient will commence. The development of the orthodontic service will have a considerable bearing on the matter and in this respect I would refer the Deputy to my reply on 4 February last to a question by Deputy Fitzpatrick on the intended appointment of additional orthodontists.