During April, May and June, the clinical team worked with Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Auckland to complete a blitz to reduce the waiting list of paediatric patients needing essential dentistry care. For 10 intensive weeks – three weeks in Whangarei and seven weeks in Manukau – the team treated 393 patients.
Thank you to the teams working alongside patients, their whānau and their circumstances. At times up to four standby patients were called up on a single day to fill gaps from illness, so this flexibility not only ensured full lists but supported people in receiving their surgery.
There is significant demand for the surgical unit in rural and urban areas. We eagerly await the new surgical unit to serve rural and urban needs effectively.