Orthodontists have warned that in many cases the children suffer from much more serious problems by the time they are finally given treatment.

This weekend specialists claimed that in many parts of England the NHS had in effect ceased to provide corrective surgery for children.

They also warned that the labour government’s introduction of an 18 week waiting time target for orthodontics at the end of the year would be so difficult to meet that patients would not be referred at all and treatment would be rationed further.

Evidence of the collapse in orthodontics in parts of the country is revealed in research by the British Orthodontic Society. It found that in at least seven hospital catchment areas in England, children with serious conditions were waiting more than four years for hospital treatment.

In one area of the northeast children are waiting for seven years while in another the delay is 5½ years.

James Spencer, consultant orthodontist at Pindersfield hospital in West Yorkshire, said: “This is totally unsatisfactory. If we are not able to get on with the treatment conditions such as impacted teeth may cause damage to other teeth. The children may also suffer psychological damage or sleeping problems.”

Once children reach 18 they are no longer routinely entitled to NHS treatment. Orthodontists report that some children turn 18 while waiting to be assessed for care and thus lose their chance of surgery on the NHS.

From:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3466774.ece

Health Direct cites this as yet is another disgusting legacy of this Labour Government.