The provision of orthodontic services to eligible persons in the Eastern Health Board area is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Health Board. I have had inquiries made of the board. I understand that the board's consultant orthodontist has been suspended from duty since November 1999. The consultant refused to commence the treatment of new patients since April 1999 and this was one of the difficulties encountered by the health board which led to her suspension. I am currently considering a proposal from the board to terminate the suspension of the consultant orthodontist following her acceptance of a number of conditions laid down by the board.
The prospective waiting time in the Eastern Health Board for a person who joined the waiting list in December 1999 is four years, those who joined the list in 1998 will wait three years and those listed in 1997 will wait approximately two years. In other health boards, the current average waiting period for persons on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment is two to four years.
My Department has allocated funding of £1.065 million in late 1999 to facilitate the development of a regional orthodontic unit at St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown. Planning for this unit is well advanced and it is anticipated that services will come on stream there in the middle of this year. In addition, my Department has recently approved capital funding of £2.6 million for the development of a further regional orthodontic unit at Beaumont Hospital and this unit is expected to come into operation mid to end 2001. Approval has also been granted for the employment of two additional consultant orthodontists and it is expected that these posts will be advertised by the Local Appointments Commission in the coming weeks.
