The provision of orthodontic treatment in the eastern region is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The maintenance of records as to numbers in treatment and waiting lists is the responsibility of the authority.
From inquiries made from the authority, I understand that the current position is as follows.
Current waiting list numbers – Category 1: 242; Category 2: 10,238. Number assessed and awaiting treatment – Category 1: 0; Category 2: 926.
Treatment numbers – there are approximately 3,000 patients currently under treatment. Statistics are not available centrally as to the numbers who completed treatment in each of the last three years.
Waiting times – the Category 1 assessment waiting list has a waiting time of approximately 18 months. The Category 1 treatment waiting list has been cleared. The Category 2 assessment waiting list has a waiting time of 5.5 years. The Category 2 treatment waiting list is now two years long.
Refused treatment on assessment – no records are maintained centrally of the number of patients refused treatment on assessment.
Cost of treatment – no exercise to ascertain an accurate cost of treatment per patient has been undertaken for some time by the authority. This would require a comprehensive study over a period of time and will be considered by the authority in the context of the division of services by area health boards over the coming year.
