Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
North Island DHBs support Canterbury’s oral health services
April 20, 2011
North Island DHBs support Canterbury’s oral health services
Two North Island District Health Boards’ generous offer of their high-tech mobile dental vans will help look after Cantabrians that need hospital level dental care.
The Christchurch Hospital Dental Service, at the Oral Health Centre Building on Tuam Street, was extensively damaged in the February 22 earthquake and staff have had to find alternative premises.
Clinics are now temporarily located over four sites in Christchurch – Hillmorton Community Dental Clinic, Burwood Hospital, Woolston Community Dental Clinic, and Christchurch Public Hospital.
Acting Clinical Director for Hospital Dental Services, Lester Settle, says Waikato and Whanganui DHBs stepped in almost immediately to help, offering the loan of their brand new two-chair mobile dental vans.
“Whanganui organised sending its van down within days of the quake. Waikato was also quick to offer its van, which arrived yesterday (April 19),” Lester says.
“The Canterbury DHB is very grateful to have the loan of these brand new vans – they will be a considerable help to ensuring Christchurch people have good access to hospital based oral health services in the coming months.”
The DHB is also thankful to Hookers Transport who donated the delivery of the dental van from Whanganui to Canterbury Hospital as a gesture of support for the Canterbury people. This included the cost of the ferry crossing, Lester says.
The vans will be based at the Hillmorton Community Dental Clinic at the end of Sylvan Street.
Phone and fax numbers for Christchurch Hospital’s Dental Service remain the same and have been diverted to the Hillmorton Community Dental Clinic where the Hospital Dental Service reception is temporarily located.
As there is now only one direct telephone line to the Hospital Dental Service, an email address has been set up to aid communication: oralhealthcentre@cdhb.govt.nz
Click for big version
Oral Health Centre Practice Coordinator Jacqui Power and Dental Officer Lester Settle with Whanganui DHB’s two-chair mobile dental van. Whanganui and Waikato DHBs have loaned their vans to Canterbury DHB to help support dental services in Christchurch after the Oral Health Centre was forced to close because of extensive damage to its Tuam St building from the February 22 earthquake.
ENDS
Health Coalition Aotearoa: National Prevention Service Cuts - A Body-Blow To Health
Queer Endurance in Defiance: Statement On The Proposed Restriction Of Puberty Blockers
NZ Olympic Committee: Nigel Avery Named NZ Team Chef de Mission For Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games And LA 2028 Olympic Games
Education Review Office: ERO Calls For Reform Of NCEA Level 1
NZ Drug Foundation: Two New Studies Show A Concerning Increase In Drug Use And Availability
Emirates Team NZ: Emirates Team New Zealand Ranked #5 In Global Sports Technology Power List