asked the Minister for Health if orthodontic treatment will be made available for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment Availability.
388.
The person in question is awaiting fixed appliance orthodontic treatment. This form of treatment is carried out by orthodontists in private practice on behalf of the health boards. The issue of authorisations to proceed with fixed appliance treatments had to be suspended by the Department of Health in the absence of agreement with the private orthodontists on a scale of charges for the treatment. However, agreement on a scale of charges is expected to be reached very shortly. A new post of consultant orthodontist for the Western Health Board was among five such posts which were advertised by the Local Appointments Commission on 26 October 1983. The filling of this post should help to reduce considerably the present lengthy waiting time for orthodontic treatment in the Western Health Board area.