asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in making arrangements for orthodontic treatment in the Midland Health Board area; and if he is aware that there is a huge backlog of vital cases and that in many instances those delays will cause irreparable damage to dental health.
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment.
357.
Up to now orthodontic services have largely been provided by the employment of orthodontists in private practice on a fee per course of treatment basis. It has not proved possible to meet the rapidly growing demands for treatment in this way and waiting lists have built up in a number of areas including that of the Midland Health Board.
Some time ago a working party on dental services, representative of the Department of Health, the health boards and the Irish Dental Association recommended that the situation should be met by the employment of five full-time consultant orthodontists to serve the eight health boards. The posts were created on the basis that in general the smaller health boards would share the services of an orthodontists appointed to a neighbouring board. The Local Appointments Commission have now invited applications for the posts and the arrangements for the provision of a service in the Midland Health Board area are under consideration.