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\nDuring the last week the clinic did over 100 extractions, on top of check-ups and cleaning, Dr Isha Woodhams says.
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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.<\/p>\n
The clinic is a joint project between Health New Zealand, the iwi Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu and Hawke’s Bay’s Golden Apple dentists.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Dr Isha Woodhams of Golden Apple Dental volunteers her time at the clinic.<\/p>\n
She told Checkpoint over the last week they had done over 100 extractions, on top of check-ups and cleaning.<\/p>\n
Woodhams said that number of extractions was far higher than what you would see in a community that had been well serviced.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The pop-up clinic has brought overwhelming demand, with some patients waiting as long as three hours to be seen.<\/p>\n
“We have had patients booked in, but we’ve been accommodating patients that have been turning up and waiting.<\/p>\n
“There’s quite a lot of people in pain, even some facial swellings and infections.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Kahungunu Executive, a M\u0101ori health provider in the area has put in a weekend locum service, but it is not enough to meet demand.<\/p>\n
The charitable trust has also recently acquired a full-time clinic with two chairs, but the challenge now is staffing it.<\/p>\n
“We’ll be doing everything we can to help find a clinician, a long-term solution for the clinic.”<\/p>\n
Woodhams said there were multiple factors that made it difficult for people in Wairoa to go outside of the district to access dental care.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The clinic has been offering all of its services for free, something Woodhams said patients had been extremely grateful for.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“It’s extremely rewarding work… it’s a huge issue for many dentists to discuss fees with patients.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
It is this feeling that has kept Woodham volunteering.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
While her stint in the town is nearly over, she is hoping that a new dentist is not too far away.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
After two weeks in service, the clinic will wrap up on Friday.<\/p>\n