Vol. 408 No. 1
19 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline (1) the number of people awaiting public orthodontic treatment, (2) the average number of cases being dealt with annually and (3) the average waiting time for treatment.
It is not possible at this stage to provide precise data on waiting lists for orthodontic services. The health boards are at present assessing children in accordance with guidelines drawn up by my Department in 1985 to determine treatment need for fixed appliance orthodontic therapy.
In 1989 £300,000 was provided for orthodontic services. A special allocation of £3 million was made in the 1990 budget to bring about an improvement in dental services. As a result, approximately 2,500 children were put on courses of orthodontic treatment by 31 December 1990. A further special allocation of £3 million for dental services was made in the 1991 budget of which £1 million was earmarked for orthodontic treatment to meet the ongoing costs of treatments commenced in 1990 and to provide for new starts in 1991. It is expected that up to 4,000 courses of treatment will be on-going by the end of September 1991. The level of orthodontic service provided by the health boards has been affected by difficulties in the recruitment of consultant orthodontists. It is proposed to advertise these posts again within the next fortnight with improved conditions of service and it is expected that they will now be filled. This would allow for a major improvement in existing service levels.
