Disability access to Otago's four school mobile dental clinics is not expected to become an issue in the south, although it has caused concern in some other areas.
Project manager for the redevelopment of the school dental service in Otago and Southland Graham Bugler said it was never intended that the mobile clinics serving 17 sites in Otago would have disability access.
Pupils who required such access would attend fixed clinics where there would be disability access.
The project planners had ensured there was a network of fixed clinics in Otago and Southland so that those who needed such access would not have too far to travel.
Most patients with a disability either attended the dental school in Dunedin or Invercargill Hospital. Often their families tied in these visits with other medical appointments.
There was also the option of a pupil being discharged into the care of a private dentist in their community.
Mr Bugler pointed out that most of the about 60 existing clinics did not have wheelchair access - "we're improving access not reducing it".
It was possible that at some mobile sites the school sick bay, where there was disability access, could be used to conduct examinations, although it would not be possible to offer treatment there.
Discussions would be held with schools and parents over various options well before the service was introduced.
He acknowledged that the steps to the mobile clinics were "pretty steep" and that some people, other than those in wheelchairs, might find them difficult.
The two-chair clinics stand 1.5m above the ground.
There would be an awning area for people to leave buggies, but in some cases parents with several pre-school children who were accompanying their school-age child to a mobile, might find it easier to travel to the nearest fixed clinic.
Mr Bugler said the specific sites for the seven fixed clinics would be finalised before the end of the year. (These are being planned for Dunedin South, Dunedin North, Mosgiel, Oamaru, Balclutha, Alexandra or Cromwell, and Wanaka.)Wanaka will have the first new fixed clinic, expected to open in about September next year.
It is being built in conjunction with the new school there.
The first mobile clinic will be seen in Southland early in the new year with Otago's not arriving until the second half of next year.
One of the anticipated issues at many school sites was the state of the power supply.
It was expected that many sites would need to upgrade their power supply to three-phase and payment for this seemed likely to involve site-by-site negotiation unless it became an issue which was addressed nationally.
Mr Bugler said some schools might have already been planning upgrades as part of other capital works they were doing.
Informal discussions have also begun with the Public Service Association and the University of Otago's faculty of dentistry over a variety of issues associated with the proposed change to the service.
The dental school will house one of the fixed clinics for Otago.
