asked the Minister for Health if, due to the large number of patients, in the North Cork community area, of whom 215 are in the Fermoy area, awaiting treatment by the orthodontist and as the orthodontist only attends on alternate Tuesdays in Mallow, he will sanction the necessary finance to enable the orthodontist to attend on a full time basis as many of those patients are up to two years awaiting this very special type of dental treatment; and if he will consider the matter as urgent.
Written Answers. - Cork Orthodontic Services.
87.
The Southern Health Board has recently doubled the number of orthodontic sessions held in north Cork community care area. This should shorten the time patients will wait for assessment and treatment. These sessions are provided by an orthodontist in private practice who is not prepared to undertake any additional sessions for the health board at this time. Six new posts of full time consultant orthodontist were created some time ago and every effort is being made to fill the posts which include a post for the Southern Health Board. It is expected that the appointment of full time consultant orthodontists to the health boards will reduce considerably the waiting times for assessment and treatment.