More than 3,000 children are waiting for orthodontic appointments in the West, while almost 1,000 have been on a waiting list for two years or more. Now a Galway TD has claimed "further delays are on the cards" due to staffing issues at University Hospital Galway.
The claim has been made by Fianna Fáil Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte, who called the figures "truly shocking". She is now demanding that acting Health Minister Leo Varadkar explains "what measures will be taken" to "alleviate the unacceptably long waiting lists".
Dep Rabbitte said she had become "aware of staffing issues within the orthodontic unit", which she alleged, "has resulted in the cancellation of certain procedures and increased delays for appointments". She also claimed that at least two orthodontic posts were currently vacant.
The TD described the situation at UHG as "extremely worrying", and claimed it is "having a major impact on hundreds of children across Galway, and neighbouring counties". Dep Rabbitte acknowledged there had been an improvement in the figures over the past few months, but added it was only "small", and that delays were impacting on children waiting years for basic orthodontic treatment, to get braces, and to have braces removed.
Dep Rabbitte called on acting Minister Varadkar to outline his plan to ensure the UHG orthodontic unit was "properly staffed". "The current situation is not sustainable," she said. "Children and teenagers across the west are suffering as a result. This is incredibly unfair and must be addressed."
