Lives at risk warns Northland dentist

Whangarei Hospital's dental service is in crisis because of the sub-standard facility, says the dentist in charge of the department.

David Stallworthy, who carries out dental operations at Whangarei Hospital, said the facilities were "Third World standard".

The health of hundreds of Northlanders was at risk, said Dr Stallworthy.

The inferior facility meant that he was unable to treat less-serious dental problems that still needed a local anaesthetic.

He was the sole hospital dentist and had only one theatre day a week for serious cases requiring general anaesthetic.

By comparison, Invercargill Hospital had three fully functional dental units, two theatre days a week and four dentists.

"It's absolutely disgraceful that a hospital the size of Whangarei doesn't have a proper dental department," he said.

"I've been pushing for things [to improve in the department] for the past 20 years, but there's been no progress."

More than 200 people were waiting for surgery, but at the current rate of being able to perform only four or five operations a week, it would take more than two years just to clear that list.

"And that's without any more people being added [to the waiting list] in the meantime. Some of these people will die before I get to see them."

It was outrageous that some people would have to wait two years for surgery when they needed the work now.

Nearly half those waiting were children.

Northland children had some of the worst statistics for dental health in the country and the poor state of the hospital's dental department was not helping the problem, he said.

Many on the waiting list had other medical problems that would just get worse as the bacteria from teeth infections spread through their body while they awaited surgery.

"Whangarei Hospital would be the worst in the country among others of similar size when it comes to the dental department. We are absolutely bottom of the heap," said Dr Stallworthy.

"There should be more staff up here and more money put into it because of [Northland's poor dental health]."

Northland District Health Board communications manager Luke Worth said the board shared Dr Stallworthy's concerns.

"The public of Northland can be reassured that we are continuing discussions with the Ministry of Health to look at ways of making sure we can have extra funding to address the dental needs of the region."

- NZPA