The North-Western Health Board, in common with the other health boards, gives priority to the provision of dental services for children, as a result of which there has been a curtailment of services for adults during the late eighties. The service for children is school-based and there are no waiting lists for service. Eligible adolescents are also treated and there is a high level of treatment provided for both groups.
The board suspended the ad hoc dental scheme in 1987 and only provided an emergency service for adults. The waiting lists for routine treatment for adults were temporarily closed. In 1989, a special allocation of £100,000 was made by the North-Western Health Board to the dental services in order to recommence routine services for adults. Priority is being given to persons requiring dentures and extractions in association with the need for dentures. These services are being provided by the dental surgeons on the health board staff in accordance with special local arrangements. The North-Western Health Board are again accepting applications from eligible adults for routine dental services.
I have been aware of shortcomings in dental services for eligible adults for some time and am currently examining the possibility of providing additional resources to bring about an improvement in these dental services for eligible adults.
