NA Hospital staff welcomes refurbished dental unit

− says space encourages more work to be done

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, April 4, 2019

The dental unit at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital has been refurbished and commissioned. This improved unit will ensure better service delivery to patients.

Ministers of Public Health, Volda Lawrence and Dr. Karen Cummings commissioned the unit. This is one of several refurbished and upgraded facilities being commissioned at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital. A remodelled kitchen, doctor’s quarters and laboratory were also commissioned.

Senior Dental Surgeon in Region 6, attached at the regional hospital, Dr. Belinda Rogers noted that the renovation of the unit brings along with it, new amenities that encourages staff to work and welcomes patients to seek treatment in a more comfortable atmosphere.

She noted that she has been working in the region for six years and it is the first time that patients seeking dental care and services at the New Amsterdam Hospital are catered to in a more meaningful manner.

“Our previous department was very cramped, it wasn’t well laid, it wasn’t well lit, there wasn’t enough space for our patients but now as you can see there are far better improvements, it better laid out better lit with a better atmosphere, we have gone from a two-operatory clinic to a three-operatory clinic.”

It was noted that the upgrade of the unit is a step in the right direction making way for continued development to the dental programme in the region and services provided by the hospital.

“This plays well into our plan for the future where we will be offering more conservative treatment and preventative treatment which takes longer than traditional extractions and screening so this is very prompting.”

The dental surgeon said that she is optimistic about the future of possible expansion of the dental unit. She is hopeful that the investment spurs continuous upgrades and scheduled maintenances and opportunities for staff further their education and upgrade their level of competence.

Dr. Rogers declared that “things have improved drastically with regards to how we can function and how we can serve the public”. The dental clinic at the hospital offers all basic dental services in addition to “root canal treatment to school kids, we offer basic surgeries like dental extraction, surgical extraction, soft tissue surgeries.”

Patients upon visiting the new unit have collectively expressed their appreciation for the refurbished facility, noting that it is much more comfortable. “We have been receiving compliments from the patients, it’s much more comfortable and for the first time we have a place for them to wait… we have our sterilisation area separate, we have a reception area, a staff lounge which is coming and our own washroom,” Dr. Rogers explained.

Head of dental services in Guyana, Dr. Kester Sullivan was also present at the commissioning ceremony.

Delicia Haynes.

Images: Keno George.

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