Changes to school dental services

Waikato District Health Board is implementing major changes to school dental services worth more than $9million.

This includes building six new dental clinics and increasing the mobile fleet from six to 15 vehicles.

Six new clinics will be built at the following schools:

• Cambridge Middle School
• Morrinsville Primary School
• Peachgrove Intermediate
• Firth Primary School
• Frankton Primary School
• Fairfield Intermediate
  

These new clinics will replace 77 existing clinics throughout the Waikato region.

An existing dental clinic at Crawshaw School will be retained and an existing ward at Tokoroa Hospital will be refurbished to provide a dental clinic service.

Currently, there are 78 school-owned facilities in the Waikato and 77 of them need replacing or refurbishment to comply with new legislation.

When the new school clinics open, Waikato DHB will vacate all 77 non-compliant facilities. Schools that don’t have a new clinic will be provided with either a mobile service, or alternatively students will need to be taken to the nearest school dental clinic for oral healthcare.

These new purpose built clinics will be a great improvement on the existing facilities and will allow new and more advanced treatment to be provided in a safe, comfortable and private setting.

The mobile clinics, built locally at CI Munro, will also be better equipped for new treatment options and will be more easily accessible.

Waikato DHB is aiming for 129 mobile dental sites throughout the region.

Location and catchment area of new fixed and mobile clinics

Questions and Answers

Why are these changes occurring?

The realignment of services is a result of the Ministry of Health’s new strategic vision (Good Oral Health for All, for Life), released in 2006, that identified a decline in the oral health of young people, and that many of the dental clinic facilities in schools were now a poor match with service needs.

This ministry required each DHB to determine how best to re-orientate their services.

In 2007, Waikato DHB presented an oral health business case to the Ministry of Health, worth more than $20 million, for 16 new on-site school clinics and increasing the mobile fleet from six to 16 vehicles.

Waikato DHB consulted widely with both schools and communities prior to finalising this plan but the ministry was unable to provide this level of funding. 

Waikato DHB revised the proposal last year and received funding approval from the Ministry of Health for funding of $9.78 million.

Which schools will have an on-site dental clinic?

• Frankton Primary
• Peachgrove Intermediate
• Fairfield Intermediate
• Morrinsville Primary
• Cambridge Middle School
• Firth Primary, Matamata
• Crawshaw (existing facility)
  

What will happen to oral care for all the other Waikato schools that no longer have a clinic?

Many schools that don’t have a dental clinic on site will have an opportunity for regular visits from a mobile service.  Depending upon the proximity to the nearest clinic or mobile, the mobile may be equipped for preventive care only or alternatively may be equipped to provide treatment services. 

Where will my child/students go for oral healthcare?

This document outlines which fixed or mobile clinic each school throughout the Waikato region will attend.

What is the mobile service?

Two types of mobile units provide different types of care;

• Preventative care mobiles can provide assessment and basic care such as fluoride applications and fissure sealants.  Children who require treatment such as fillings or teeth removed will have appointments scheduled at a nearby dental clinic.  A memorandum of understanding will be developed with each individual school visited by a preventive care unit to cover the ongoing mobile service.
  
  
• Treatment mobile units are larger and have a range of configurations.  Consultants are presently visiting schools to prepare for their introduction.  Consultancy covers needs and existing resources such as access, surfaces, power, water and drainage, It may also include strength testing of surfaces.  A lease agreement will be established with each school where a treatment mobile will be located.
  

How did you decide which schools would receive a new clinic?

The higher need for oral health services at low decile schools, travelling distances and school sizes were all taken into consideration by Waikato DHB before deciding on service locations.

Children have poorer teeth in low decile schools, so Waikato DHB saw these schools as a priority for an on-site service.

Waikato DHB considered travel distances for parents to ensure that services were accessible for everyone. 

School size was considered as services need to be efficient. 

Before deciding on the original plan, extensive consultation took place with schools.  This included considering the school plans and site suitability for clinics and mobiles.

Waikato DHB wanted to build an element of flexibility into the plan and mobile services provide flexibility for population shifts.  The fixed facilities are also able to be relocated if required in the future.

What will happen to the old clinics?

These buildings are already owned by the schools. When the new clinics are ready to open, Waikato DHB will vacate the old clinics and the schools will decide what happens to the building.

When will these changes occur?

While exact dates are still to be confirmed, we anticipate completion of the fixed clinic builds within this calendar year.  Our mobile fleet will commence rollout at the end of 2010, with the full fleet operational by late 2011.

Will these changes create more jobs?

Yes, Waikato DHB are employing more dental assistants.

How will I know which facility (fixed dental clinic or mobile unit) my child will attend?

We are assessing the mobile sites, taking into account location, school size and decile rating.  We will be communicating directly with each school as soon as we are able.  As school populations and decile ratings change, our plans will change and adapt to meet the needs of the community.

How will parents / caregivers know about the changes?

Parents will be directly informed of changes with their child’s next appointment. A map showing the nearest clinic’s location and other special instructions will be sent with the appointment.

What other changes are happening within the School Dental Service?

We are also making business process improvements.  These include focusing more on prevention with parents and family.  We are recruiting more dental assistants, reviewing opening hours and increasing the scope of treatments available on our sites. We are committed to ensuring that these changes have a positive benefit for your community. 

If you have any concerns or queries, please email cohp@waikatodhb.govt.nz or phone (07) 859 9160 or 0800 TALK TEETH.