Dentist to get €1.7m in waiting list scheme

A PRIVATE orthodontist contracted to the Government’s treatment purchase scheme stands to earn €1.7 million in two years, while an entire public dental health department has an annual budget of €1.5m.

The Southern Health Board (SHB) is at an advanced stage of negotiations to secure a private practitioner to treat patients on its public orthodontic waiting list, with almost 3,927 people awaiting treatment and a further 2,932 awaiting assessment.

A budget of €720,000 has been set aside in the first year for the private practitioner for the treatment of 246 public patients.