Mouth care goes mobile

A dental clinic on wheels has been visiting Somerset Crescent School since its own clinic closed seven years ago.

Now it's the first school in the MidCentral Health district to host a new unit.

The single-seat mobile is one of five that will build a fleet to replace all the remaining school dental clinics by the end of the year in the new-look child and adolescent oral health service.

The school held a brief ceremony yesterday morning, at which Rev Kahu Durie led the blessing.

Principal Robyn Tootill said it was special for the school's 180 predominantly Maori and Pacific Island pupils to be first to have the clinic.

Project manager Kate Aplin said the response from schools wanting to be part of an improved dental health service was encouraging.

The district's first new double-chair clinic has arrived and is undergoing final checks before its scheduled first visit to Fox-ton Primary School later this month.

The units don't have disability access, and the MidCentral District Health Board is working with the Disabled Persons Assembly and CCS to ensure children with disabilities, or with carers with disabilities, are able to access dental care. The mobile service will be backed up with three fixed clinics that will be built in Palmerston North, and two in Feilding.

- © Fairfax NZ News