Hospital unable to fill dental job

Press, 17 June 1982, Page 6

Hospital unable to fill dental job

Patients seeking dental treatment could be turned away from Christchurch Hospital because of a shortage of orthodontists. . The'finance committee of the North Canterbury Hospital Board was told yesterday that a full-time post at the hospital’s dental department had not been filled .in spite of being advertised for three years. .

A part-time’ appointment had been- made and the senior ' dental -. surgeon? MrDavid Barker, ■ said this meant that the department might need to refuse treatment for some of- the new patients referred: for orthodontic treatment. Mr T.’M. McGuigan said he was concerned that an orthodontist had been employed on a part-time basis. This meant diverting

patients to the private sector.; ' ■;

The medical superintend-ent-in-chief, Dr R. A. Fairgray, said .that .nobody seemed prepared' to work full-time in, orthodontics Only one person had applied for the post after three years of advertising and he was prepared to work only parttime.

Mr Barker had earlier approached the budgeting and staffing committee . to request .the board to ask the Social . .Welfare Department to subsidise private orthodontic treatment for those turned away from the hospital..

The finance committee will ask the dental department to review its role and function and to consider what its priorities should be.