New dental facilities for wheelchair users 'all about equity of care'

Work facilitated by grant from the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust

New facilities at the Community Dental Service on Westmoreland Road are 'all about equity of care'.

That's from specialist in special care dentistry, Beverley McClung, who approached the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust to facilitate the project.

The trust provided a grant of £33,000 to carry out building work which included taking down a wall to make a dedicated treatment room for wheelchair users who can't self-transfer into a dental chair - nicknamed the 'Bloom Room'.

The grant covered everything, including plumbing, electrics and decorating and the provision of some new dental equipment. 

Dr McClung says the changes mean patients are now at the centre of the experience:

The Community Dental Service offers high quality, preventative-focused dental care for patients who find it difficult to use general dental services.

It receives around 1,000 referrals a year.

Dr McClung already had the use of a Diaco dental chair - essentially, a specially designed dental platform. 

Patients can remain in their wheelchair which is wheeled onto the platform and the platform then lifts and tilts the chair, putting them into an ideal position to receive treatment. 

However, the platform is bulky and there was no suitable room to put it in, so it had to be moved in and out of a storeroom whenever it was needed, making it harder to arrange appointment times for patients.

It now forms the centrepiece of the new room.

Malcolm Clague, a Trustee of the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust, said: "The Trustees are very pleased to provide the funding for this project which makes dental care more accessible and comfortable for those unable to safely access the standard dental chair in use in dental surgeries around the island, particularly patients who are wheelchair bound. 

"The Trustees were also impressed by the dedication and determination of the staff in driving their vision through, enabling them to fully meet the needs of this group of patients in a timely way within a warm and friendly environment.

"We wish them well for the future."

And you can hear more from Dr Bev in our latest Newscast: