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Angry parents lash out
6th Feb 2007
Large numbers of parents are ‘upset or angry’ because new rules are preventing orthodontists from fixing their children’s crooked teeth on the NHS, according to the British Orthodontic Society (BOS). The BOS said rules forcing its members to prioritise clinical need and reject cases considered not sufficiently serious were leading to ‘difficult’ situations on a daily basis up and down the country, as orthodontists increasingly fulfilled the role of bearer of bad news. Dr Liz Devenish, chairwoman of the BOS’s Orthodontic Specialists Group, told Dentistry: ‘It’s difficult for us having to turn down borderline cases which do not meet the criteria. ‘Some parents leave the practice upset or angry. We advise them to appeal to the Primary Care Trust (PCT) or to come back in a year because their child’s teeth may worsen and then treatment on the NHS may be possible.’ Since April orthodontists have been told they must adhere to strict eligibility criteria set out in the Index of Treatment Need. Dr Devenish said this had introduced a ‘rigid line’ dividing those who qualified for NHS treatment and those deemed not to have a dental health need. For example, if a child had teeth which protruded by up to 6mm or had a mild open bite, they would not receive treatment. The Department of Health (DoH) has said a proportion of patients will be examined to ensure the rules are being followed properly. As previously reported, the BOS has estimated the change will cut the number of patients eligible for free treatment by 20%, prompting claims – denied by government – that more than 7,000 mostly young people are now being turned down for corrective dental work every month. BOS executive secretary Chris Kettler said: ‘We understand the disappointment of parents with children who really want orthodontics but can’t get it on the NHS. ‘Some parents have children who have been building up to getting their braces, only to find that they do not meet the criteria. It’s very hard on those families who cannot afford private treatment.’ But, rather than opposing the government’s funding rules, the BOS has accepted that cash is limited and has taken the position that the unpopular index is a ‘robust system for assessing dental health need’. Mr Kettler added: ‘BOS wants to make sure that first and foremost those children with the greatest dental health need can get treated on the NHS.’ The DoH has defended the new rules and pointed out that England spent more public money on orthodontic services than any other country in the world. By Andy Tate, Parliamentary Correspondent
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