Commenting on figures that reveal a seven and a half year backlog in orthodontic treatment in west Wales, Paul Davies AM said:
“We knew the problem was bad but this is really shocking. I have been asking the Welsh Health Minister to investigate this issue for a number of years.
“I’ve heard concerns from a lot of parents about long waits, routine waits of three years and 80 mile round trips for treatment.”
The problem is more acute in Pembrokeshire because there is no NHS orthodontist in the county and children have to travel to Carmarthenshire for treatment.
Carmarthen orthodontist David Howells’ own research reveals that there are 507 people on his waiting list and that one client has been waiting since April 2007 for treatment.
He estimates that it would take seven and a half years to clear the backlog of cases already on his waiting list – and that’s without any new cases being added.
Local MP Simon Hart said: “For children to have to wait three years for treatment is completely unacceptable, often these problems need to be addressed in childhood and yet some are having to wait until they are almost adults.”
Parents have told Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Mr Davies of:
- A boy of 15 who has been waiting for three years for treatment – he’s now 18 and still hasn’t been seen.
- A 17-year-old girl whose dentist had to request an “accelerated appointment” after she waited more than three years to get an initial consultation.
- An eight-year-old girl who, despite needing urgent attention, waited two years for treatment.
- A 13-year-old boy who had to make an 80-mile round trip for treatment once he was finally allocated an orthodontist.
- Three siblings who started to get private treatment because the wait was so long but had to stop going because of the cost.
- A 10-year-old girl who waited two years for an appointment but after two consultations the orthodontist retired, leaving her back at square one. To have the treatment privately would cost £2,500 which her parents could not afford.
“We have now had it confirmed that orthodontic care in Pembrokeshire is in crisis,” said Mr Davies.
“I will continue to raise questions about the service in the Welsh Assembly in an attempt to ease the situation.”
