Vol. 414 No. 4
218 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the serious situation existing in the Eastern Health Board area in relation to the establishment of an orthodontic service following the resignation recently of the consultant orthodontist; and the proposals she has to ensure the provision of an adequate service.
I am aware that the consultant orthodontist with the Eastern Health Board recently submitted her resignation to the board.
The provision and management of the orthodontic services in the Eastern Health Board area is a matter for the board in the first instance. The board did appoint a full time consultant orthodontist in May 1991 but apart from this the Eastern Health Board had greatly extended their orthodontic service in the past three years through arrangements with a number of consultant and specialist orthodontists. The Eastern Health Board have for some years had an arrangement with the Dublin Dental Hospital for the provision of consultant orthodontic services.
Some 2,250 patients completed treatment in 1990 and 3,660 patients are currently receiving treatment. These increased service levels will not be affected by the resignation of the consultant orthodontist.
