Source: Radio New Zealand
During the last week the clinic did over 100 extractions, on top of check-ups and cleaning, Dr Isha Woodhams says.
A pop-up clinic offering free dental care in Wairoa has been overwhelmed with demand in an area that has not had a full-time dentist for half a decade.
The clinic is a joint project between Health New Zealand, the iwi Ngāti Kahungunu and Hawke’s Bay’s Golden Apple dentists.
Patients are being prioritised according to need, and there have been a lot of them keen to get in the chair, with the clinic’s two week run almost over.
Dr Isha Woodhams of Golden Apple Dental volunteers her time at the clinic.
She told Checkpoint over the last week they had done over 100 extractions, on top of check-ups and cleaning.
Woodhams said that number of extractions was far higher than what you would see in a community that had been well serviced.
“There is a lot of unmet demand from just deferred care. So, we’re seeing a lot of patients in pain, a lot needing fillings, just basic dental care.”
The pop-up clinic has brought overwhelming demand, with some patients waiting as long as three hours to be seen.
“We have had patients booked in, but we’ve been accommodating patients that have been turning up and waiting.
“There’s quite a lot of people in pain, even some facial swellings and infections.”
While historically there had always been a dentist in Wairoa, Woodhams said due to a national shortage of dentists there had not been one in the town for over half a decade.
The Kahungunu Executive, a Māori health provider in the area has put in a weekend locum service, but it is not enough to meet demand.
The charitable trust has also recently acquired a full-time clinic with two chairs, but the challenge now is staffing it.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to help find a clinician, a long-term solution for the clinic.”
Woodhams said there were multiple factors that made it difficult for people in Wairoa to go outside of the district to access dental care.
“The region, a couple of years ago, was badly affected by the floods, and there’s very low socio-economic demographics here. So, it’s a huge barrier to leave for routine care.”
The clinic has been offering all of its services for free, something Woodhams said patients had been extremely grateful for.
“One patient misunderstood, they thought that they had to pay and they were extremely relieved. She was almost in tears when we said it was free.
“It’s extremely rewarding work… it’s a huge issue for many dentists to discuss fees with patients.
“We know that things have been tough for patients across the country, especially in the context of the last five years. So it’s a huge privilege to be able to provide free dental care and to just take cost out of the equation for the day.”
It is this feeling that has kept Woodham volunteering.
“It’s a privilege to practice dentistry and cost is a huge barrier, so practising in a context without it is just a blessing really.”
While her stint in the town is nearly over, she is hoping that a new dentist is not too far away.
“There’s huge funding in place at the moment from the Health New Zealand for a bonded scholarship scheme for health providers to come work in the regional areas, so I’m hopeful that someone will turn up soon.”
After two weeks in service, the clinic will wrap up on Friday.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
