Cutback jeopardises dental assessment
Eligibility s based on guidelines issued by the Department of Health in 1985.
There are three categories of eligibility A, B and C with all categories equally legally entitled to receive orthodontic treatment.
The joint Oireachtas committee indicated that a mechanism be put in place to ensure that guidelines for prioritising the orthodontic service are not amended before they have been considered by the appropriate Oireachtas committee and that an agreed copy is laid before the houses of the Oireachtas.
However, in a shocking development the Minister for Health and Children has indicated that the provision of orthodontics services is currently severely restricted and that a category C patient may no longer be eligible for treatment.
Maybe Deputy Batt O'Keeffe can indicate through his chairmanship of the Southern Health Board what guidelines are to be used when assessing children to determine their eligibility for orthodontic treatment within the Southern Health Board.
Otherwise we may have to cancel the current round of orthodontic assessments over the next few weeks.
Ian O'Dowling,
Consultant Orthodontist, St Finbarr's Hospital,
Douglas Road
