asked the Minister for Health when orthodontic treatment will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Mayo Orthodontic Treatment.
846.
The person in question is awaiting fixed appliance orthodontic treatment. This treatment is carried out by orthodontists in private practice on behalf of the health boards and in normal circumstances treatment of the case in question would now be in progress. However, the Department of Health have been endeavouring for the past two years to get agreement with the private orthodontists on a scale of charges for the treatment and in the absence of agreement the issue of authorisations to proceed with treatments was suspended. The Department have recently put proposals for a fee scale to the orthodontists. If the orthodontists agree to these proposals then the Department will be in a position to recommence the issue of authorisations to health boards to proceed with fixed appliance cases.
Applications will be invited soon for a new full-time post of consultant orthodontist for the Western Health Board. The filling of this post should greatly reduce the waiting period for orthodontic treatment in the area.