The Ombudsman for Children received a complaint about the lack of orthodontic services available to a child in foster care. Concerns were also raised about how appointments were managed and how discussions with the child and the foster family about mitigating circumstances were understood, which had caused distress to the child and may have delayed access to care. The complainant also stated that there had been a considerable amount of time between the initial assessment of the child’s application for orthodontic treatment and communication to the family of the final decision.

From its investigation of this case, the Ombudsman for Children’s Office identified that the HSE had not provided clarity to the child and the foster family about the entitlements to orthodontic treatment for children in care. Nor had the HSE communicated clearly to the family the implications of seeking private treatment which had been sourced previously by the foster parents.

The HSE accepted the OCO’s findings that there had been a lack of clarity regarding eligibility for treatment; and that poor management of appointments and unclear communications had caused distress to the child.

The HSE had stated that the child was not eligible for orthodontic treatment. However, in light of the intervention by the Office the HSE reconsidered the particular circumstances of this case and advised the OCO that they would provide redress for the child.

The HSE also advised the OCO that they intended to revise their methods for communicating more generally with foster carers about orthodontic treatment.

Posted in: Investigations State