The father of a teenage orthodontic patient at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary has spoken out as children face long wait times for treatment.
The man, who has 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 the problems with his teeth still haven't been resolved.
He said that it is "really disappointing" that other local children are also being affected by issues 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 trust that runs the RLI says wait times are due to issues with staffing, recruitment, equipment and service support - and that they have written to patients with an update.
The man told Beyond Radio: "We've had issues throughout his treatment, with a general lack of communication, long gaps between appointments, and an inconsistent treatment plan.
"As a result he is two-and-a-half years into treatment and still hasn't been sorted.
"Following another gap in appointments, I was amazed to be told in September by staff that the department had closed in August with no date for reopening.
"We finally had an appointment in Morecambe last month, so he had gone from June to November without any checks or alterations to his appliances.
"It must have been the same for many young people and adults receiving treatment which is really disappointing for all concerned."
The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, told Beyond Radio that their orthodontic department hasn't closed and remains open.
But 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 to be seen than we’d like.
"These issues are not unique to our trust but are replicated in orthodontic services within Lancashire and South Cumbria, and across the whole country.
"That said, we understand the impact this is having on our patients who have been waiting for the care that they need, and we have recently written to them to update them on what is being done to try to rectify the situation and any options that might be available to them.
"We will continue to work with our partners to do all we can to not only resume the service but also improve it going forward, so that patients get the best possible care in the right place."
Orthodontic treatment is free on the NHS for young people under the age of 18, but because of high demand, there can be a long waiting list.
Treatment is usually only started after most of a child's adult teeth have started to come through.
This is usually when they are about 12 years old, but it depends on how many of their adult teeth have come through and the growth of their face and jaws.
Orthodontic treatment for adults can begin at any age.
*For more background on the NHS dental crisis, see our story from September 2024 here:
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