More than 1,300 people across County Galway are waiting for orthodontic assessments, while those waiting to be treated number more than 1,800.
The figures from the HSE show waiting times for orthodontic assessments are six months for emergency cases, one year for emergency cases, and between two to four years for routine cases. A total of 1,321 patients are currently awaiting an assessment, while 1,845 patients are on the treatment waiting list.
'Urgency'
Independent Galway East TD Seán Canney, said the waiting times were “not acceptable” and warned that they “will get worse as a result of the COVID restrictions”. No routine cases are being dealt with presently.
“There is an urgent need to provide additional resources to tackle this,” he said. “Children with need for orthodontic assessment and treatment are being treated in an unjust way. This is a matter of urgency.”
It is understood there are unfilled posts and that a new specialist in orthodontic treatment is to be appointed in April 2021.
