Peter Dunne

Wellington, May 26 NZPA - The first of 94 mobile dental surgeries to be introduced nationwide was rolled out in Ashburton today.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne officially opened the mobile surgery which will spearhead a nationwide upgrade of oral health services for New Zealand communities.

As well as opening the mobile clinic, Mr Dunne and Canterbury District Health Board deputy chairwoman Dr Olive Webb also officially opened Canterbury's first community dental clinic at the Oakgrove Consulting Rooms at Ashburton Hospital.

The country's 21 district health boards have combined their purchases to provide better oral health services for communities and to avoid duplication of efforts and resources.

Phil Cammish, lead chief executive for the collective procurement project, said the mobile units would range in size from small one-chair self-drive assessment units to large two-surgery towable units, and would provide DHBs with up-to-date community oral health facilities tailored to their needs.

The 21 DHBs had also negotiated contracts with five suppliers of dental equipment to provide high quality equipment at excellent prices.

"Resources are always scarce so it's important to use them well," Mr Cammish said.

"We're very pleased to have been able to combine our buying to get a good deal on these mobile units.

"Dental therapists will be able to move from location to location knowing the equipment they're using is the same wherever they work. That type of standardisation ultimately means greater safety for people receiving dental treatment."

Mr Cammish said DHBs would buy mobile dental units from a set of configurations produced by Hamilton campervan and caravan manufacturer CI Munro.

NZPA