Thousands of Manawatu children waiting months to see a dentist
Thousands of children in the Manawatu area of New Zealand are waiting for dental treatment, it has been revealed. In the worst cases, children have been waiting up to 19 months to get the treatment they need.
The latest figures show that more than 7,000 children are waiting to see a dentist. Experts believe it will take up to two years to clear the backlog and reduce waiting times.
Representatives from the Mid Central District Health Board claim that they are prioritising urgent cases and attempting to treat those who need immediate treatment as quickly as possible. Those who require routine services, such as check-ups, will be required to wait after a series of events lead to a significant increase in waiting times. Last year, four dentists resigned and a mobile unit, which served local schools, was damaged. The health board also introduced a new digital system, which caused delays.
By the end of December 2016, more than 8,100 children were on dental waiting lists, but the figure fell to 7,300 by March. More than 2,200 children have been waiting for more than seven months after the 12-month period following their last check-up elapsed, resulting in a total wait of 19 months.
The communities in Palmerston North are believed to be worst affected.
Barbara Robson, from the health board, admitted that waiting 19 months was unacceptable and blamed the sorry situation on a “perfect storm”, which resulted from multiple resignations and damage to the mobile clinic. The board is doing everything it can to ensure that children are seen as soon as possible.
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