Vol. 418 No. 4
147 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the allocation made to deal with waiting lists for orthodontic treatment in the Southern Health Board area for 1991 and 1992 and the average waiting period at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Children seen by the Southern Health Board's school dental service are referred for screening for the provision of specialist orthodontic treatment in accordance with guidelines issued by my Department.
Children in Category A which is the category of greatest severity receive immediate treatment. In the remaining categories (B and C) the average waiting periods are as follows: North Cork, 6-9 months; Cork City, South Cork & West Cork, 0-18 months; Kerry 0-4 years.
A full time consultant orthodontist has recently been recruited to the board's service. The board has also arrangements with two private orthodontists, who work on a sessional basis, for the provision of specialist services. The board recently reached agreement with University College Cork and Cork Dental Hospital under which an agreed level of orthodontic treatment will be carried out at Cork Dental Hospital.
