Thousands of children are waiting to see a dentist in Manawatu, New Zealand

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Thousands of children are waiting to see a dentist in the Manawatu region of New Zealand, as concerns about waiting lists grow.

At the end of the year, it was revealed that more than 8,000 children were on a waiting list. The numbers have skyrocketed after a series of events, including dentist resignations, damage to a mobile unit and delays caused by the introduction of a new digital record system.

The local health board has stated that it is doing everything possible to ensure that those waiting for appointments can see a dentist as quickly as possible, and there are expectations to halve the number of patients on the waiting list by June 2017.

Numbers started to spiral out of control in September 2016, and by the end of December, 8,111 children were named on the list.

Former dental nurse and board member for Mid Central, Barbara Robson, pointed out the issues in November, and said that the figures were a “concern.” The board is now trying to prioritise those with the most pressing concerns and bounce back from a difficult few months.

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