NHS trust apologises over orthodontic delays

A hospital trust has apologised after staff shortages left some patients struggling to book orthodontic appointments.

United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which covers hospitals in Boston, Lincoln and Grantham, said its orthodontic service had been under significant staffing pressures, leading to limited appointment availability.

Prof Ciro Rinaldi, chief medical officer at Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, said the trust has recruited additional staff to address the shortages within the service.

Rinaldi said more appointments were now being offered, and patients were being prioritised according to clinical need.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Rinaldi apologised to patients affected and said he recognised that the lack of appointments may have caused concern.

"We have been working with NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board and partners to create additional orthodontic capacity and recruit into the service, so that care continues to be delivered safely and appropriately," he said.

A spokesperson for NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board said the additional staff would enable more appointments to be offered to patients.

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