The father of a teenage orthodontic patient at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary has spoken out as children face long waiting times for treatment.
The man, who asked not to be named, said his 16-year-old son was first referred to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) almost three years ago and his teeth problems had not yet resolved.
He said it was “really disappointing” that other children in the area were also affected by problems with orthodontic services at the hospital.
Orthodontic treatment aims to improve the appearance, position and function of crooked, protruding or crowded teeth, sometimes by fitting special braces or headgear to correct their position.
The RLI-run trust says waiting times are down to issues with staffing, recruitment, equipment and service support – and have written to patients with an update.
The man told Beyond Radio: “We had problems throughout his treatment, with a general lack of communication, long gaps between appointments and an inconsistent treatment schedule.
“As a result, he’s been in treatment for two and a half years and it’s still not settled.
“After another gap in appointments, I was surprised to be told in September by staff that the department had closed in August with no re-opening date.
“We finally had an appointment in Morecambe last month so he had gone from June to November without any checks or changes to his devices.
“It must have been the same for many young people and adults receiving treatment, which is really disappointing for all concerned.”
University Hospital Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, told Beyond Radio that their orthodontic department has not closed and remains open.
However, Jane McNicholas, Chief Medical Officer at the trust, said: “Due to issues with staffing, recruitment, equipment and service support, patients waiting for an orthodontic appointment have been waiting much longer than we would have liked.
“These issues are not unique to our trust but are recurring across orthodontic services in Lancashire and South Cumbria and across the country.
“That said, we understand the impact this is having on our patients who have been waiting for the care they need, and we have recently written to let them know what is being done to try to remedy the situation and any options that may be available to them.
“We will continue to work with our partners to do everything we can to not only continue the service but improve it in the future so that patients receive the best possible care in the right place.”
Orthodontic treatment is free on the NHS for under 18s, but due to high demand, there can be a long waiting list.
Treatment usually only begins after most of a child’s adult teeth have begun to erupt.
This usually happens when they are around 12 years old, but it depends on how many of their adult teeth have come in and their face and jaws are developing.
Orthodontic treatment for adults can begin at any age.
*For more on the NHS dental crisis, see our story from September 2024 here:
Dental crisis ‘scandal’ as hundreds diagnosed with tooth decay in Morecambe Bay hospitals – Beyond Radio
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