UNIONDALE NEWS - It is said that good things happen in threes. Uniondale Hospital was a shining example of this recently when they received fibre internet, a digital X-ray machine and a new dental chair, all in one week.
Dr Tertius Ackerman, clinical manager for Uniondale, said all three these improvements will make a big difference to the service that the hospital can deliver.
"The X-ray machine is now digital so staff can access results and reports online, anytime. The fibre internet will also enhance our internet speed, which will improve the speed of overall administrative tasks, and this is also needed for the digital X-ray machine. Then, last but not least, there is the new dental chair which will ensure great comfort for patients coming for dental services."
Ackerman said that community participation plays an important role in the hospital's service delivery as was demonstrated with the purchase of the new dental chair.
Dr Carl Potgieter and two hospital board members, Hendrik Metik and Kelly-Ann Robertson, demonstrating the difference between the old and new dentist chair.
Dentist Dr Carl Potgieter was filled with excitement when the first patients could use the new chair at the end of March.
"For some, a new dental chair might just be a chair, but for staff and patients who had to work from a very old chair the new one is a welcome addition. We are so excited to finally be able to render our dental services from an upgraded dental chair. It was bought by donations from the local community through the hospital board and it cost R160 000. This is a mammoth amount for a small hospital with a small budget.
"The Lions and the Karoo to Coast cycling organisation also formed part of the donors. We would like to thank everyone who played a part in the process," said Potgieter.
The George Sub-district oral health team does outreach visits to Uniondale and surrounds twice per month. "We treat mostly dental caries* and do a lot of tooth extractions. Cases that are more complicated or need general anaesthesia are referred to higher levels of care, such as at the George Hospital.
"We have big plans to improve the dental outcomes within the broader Uniondale area and that starts with the children. We aim to get all the local crèches on board our tooth brushing programme whereby they will monitor tooth brushing at school, keeping caries away. We also want to give fluoride treatments to children, which will also help keep teeth stronger. Screenings will be done on primary school children as well," said Potgieter.
* Caries is a chronic infectious disease resulting from cariogenic bacteria that adhere to the tooth and turns sugars into acid.
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