Media Response to Taranaki Daily News article 14 July 08 re dental bus plan

14 July 2008

Taranaki will have a dental bus service next year

The Taranaki District Health Board’s dental bus service plan is not at risk, says Taranaki DHB Portfolio manager Warwick Gilchrist

“The Taranaki DHB has funding for a mobile dental unit and the project is on track,” he said.

“We are working with a reduction in funding from the Ministry of Health but we are still in negotiation around this. Our community oral health project is continuing as planned.”

The Ministry of Health budget reduction of $460,000 was not targeted at the mobile dental bus service but was for the project as a whole as had been previously reported to the Board.

This reduction in funding from the Ministry, in the worst case, could affect the number of dental assistants that we would employ. This would not affect the number of dental therapists as was incorrectly reported. Our staff are very important to this project and to the future of the oral health service.

“The Taranaki community can be assured that their new mobile dental unit and the new community oral health service will be delivered,” said Mr Gilchrist.

For more information please call

Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph. 021 367 789

Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2008

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