asked the Minister for Health if he will authorise the Western Health Board to employ a consultant or orthodontist (details supplied) in County Galway to treat a person (details supplied) with a fixed appliance in accordance with permission which was sought by the board on 11 February 1982.
Written Answers. - Galway Hospital Consultant.
601.
The person in question is awaiting fixed appliance orthodontic treatment. This treatment is carried out by orthodontists in private practice on behalf of the health boards and in normal circumstances treatment of the cases in question would now be in progress. However, the Department of Health have been endeavouring for nearly two years to get agreement with the private orthodontists on a scale of charges for the treatment and in the absence of agreement the issue of authorisations to proceed with treatments was suspended. As a result of recent discussions with the private orthodontists I am hopeful that agreement will shortly be reached so that treatments can again be proceeded with.
Applications will be invited soon for a new full-time post of consultant orthodontist for the Western Health Board. The filling of this post should greatly reduce the waiting period for orthodontic treatment in the area.