NHS Orkney donates dental equipment to Dentaid
Representatives from NHS Orkney have donated equipment to help the international efforts of Dentaid. The health board has put together a kit, which contains an array of vital instruments, to aid efforts in countries like Nepal and Cambodia.
The kit was originally a donation to the board in the days when it covered a larger number of patients than it does now. Now, the board has decided that it will be better placed in the hands of charity workers like those who volunteer for Dentaid. The growth of Orkney’s private dental sector means that fewer patients see NHS dentists, and therefore the board doesn’t require additional equipment.
Jay Wragg, clinical director at NHS Orkney, explained that the kit wasn’t used by public health services, and it seemed the right thing to do to pass it on to Dentaid. Charities often rely on donations, and the equipment will benefit people living in rural communities overseas.
NHS Orkney has been working with Dentaid over the course of the last twelve months, so it seemed the natural choice. Former senior dental officer at the trust, Stuart Little, has worked on Dentaid projects in Belarus and Nepal, and he said that the donation will make a massive difference. Even the most basic instruments are vital for preventing and treating infections.
The kit will be carried from Orkney to Aberdeen by Northlink Ferries, which is offering the service free of charge. Volunteers from Aberdeen’s Lion Club will then pass the equipment onto Dentaid representatives.
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