No teeth... life sucks thanks to hospital

Cartoon / Rod Emmerson

A 61-year-old Otahuhu man will have to go without red meat for at least five weeks after his dentures were accidentally thrown in the rubbish bin while he was in Middlemore Hospital.

Brian Thompson was admitted to Middlemore on October 11 because of complications from a previous heart attack.

During his stay he had a bout of vomiting, so he took out his dentures, wrapped them in tissue and set them on his bedside table.

The next day the dentures were gone and hospital staff admitted it was likely cleaners had thrown them out.

Mr Thompson was told he would get a replacement set.

But he would have to wait two weeks for his first dental appointment and a further three or four weeks for the dentures.

"I can't chew my toast, I can't eat meat. I just want a piece of steak, it's not fair," Mr Thompson said.

He felt hospital staff should have been more helpful after the blunder.

"Obviously it was an accident and I don't blame anyone but someone should be straight with me and tell me how long I'm supposed to stay with just my gums.

"You might not think it, but it's quite painful."

The incident left Mr Thompson exasperated. He said he was most upset about an incident which happened when he lost his temper with a receptionist at the oral health clinic.

Mr Thompson said the receptionist told him, "Look, if you come in at half past one next Tuesday we just might not see you until half past two. We might put other patients ahead of you."

Counties Manukau District Health Board's communications manager, Lauren Young, said the DHB would speak to the staff involved.

"We are sorry that Mr Thompson lost his dentures while in our hospital.

"Regarding the comments about staff, this will take time to investigate as we only know what Mr Thompson claims was said."

Ms Young said the oral service provided by the DHB was acute and had to give priority to people who need urgent services.

She told the Herald that the hospital would do its best to ensure Mr Thompson got through the system as quickly as possible.

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