Some children waiting more than four years for orthodontic treatment in South Tipperary

Forty-five children have been waiting more than four years for orthodontic treatment in South Tipperary, according to information a local TD has received. 

And 377 children are waiting between two and four years to receive orthodontic treatment in the south of the county. 

There are currently 809 children awaiting orthodontic treatment in South Tipperary and 378 of these are waiting up to two years for treatment. 

Independent TD Mattie McGrath received this waiting list information in a reply to a Parliamentary Question he tabled to the Minister for Health. 

Deputy McGrath condemned the waiting times as "absolutely appalling" and described the HSE's failure to cut the waiting times as "bordering on abuse".  

He pointed out that he had been lobbying for a reduction in patient waiting times for orthodontic services in South Tippeary for the past five years. 

"I am told two Orthodontists currently serve the South Tipperary area, one of whom is a consultant orthodontist who only visits one day a fortnight.

"The failure to make any dent in these waiting times only confirms the mismanagement of the health service at the highest levels."