Taranaki Community Oral Health Service moving forward

July 28, 2009

Taranaki District Health Board is moving forward with the modernisation of oral health services for children and young people in the region. As part of a $100 million national programme Taranaki DHB has been allocated $3.04 million to invest in the these services.

Planning for the service has been underway since 2007 and is now progressing rapidly following confirmation of government funding earlier this year. Recent community consultation on the location of six new Oral Health Clinics has resulted in confirmation on all but one of the six sites. In addition three mobile dental units will deliver services to 22 schools.

Taranaki DHB Planning & Funding GM, Sandra Boardman said a lot of consultation had gone on to ensure the sites are appropriate. “We have been speaking with staff, schools, Board of Trustees and the community about possible sites and I believe that the sites chosen best meet the requirements of individual communities” said Mrs Boardman.

Phase I was to undertake the community consultation to identify and work with those consulted to agree the location of the fixed site clinics. Phase II will focus on building.

It has been decided a four chair clinic will be situated at New Plymouth Girls High with work to begin by the end of the year.

A clinic with capacity for four chairs will be at constructed at Rangiatea (Main South Road by Spotswood Primary School) and will begin by early next year.

There will be a refurbishment and extension of the current dental unit in the outpatient’s area at Hawera Hospital with two additional chairs beginning in 2010.

Oral health services will continue to be provided from Manukorihi Intermediate School in Waitara, with any changes occurring later next year.

A two chair clinic at the Stratford Health centre is targeted for 2010. A two chair mobile unit for the South Taranaki District is due to arrive here mid next year.
The decision round the Inglewood district will be made later in the year and construction will begin in 2010.

The new clinics supported by mobile service are designed to deliver oral health care to over 20,000 children and young people annually across the region and replace the current School Dental Service.

For more information please call
Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph. 021 367 789

Last updated: Tuesday, November 12, 2013