The provision of orthodontic treatment for persons with entitlements under the Health Acts is the statutory responsibility of the health boards.
The waiting list for orthodontic treatment for the Western Health Board area is maintained by the Western Health Board. I have been advised by the board that there is no waiting list for children in category A, the category of greatest need. The number of children currently on the category B waiting list is 3,070. The number of children on the waiting list at February 1997 was 2,140. The average waiting time is 24 months.