RE Official Information Act request WCDHB 9375
I refer to your email, dated 31 October 2019, to the Ministry of Health which they subsequently partially transferred to us on 22 November 2019 requesting the following information under the Official Information Act from West Coast DHB. Specifically:
1.The number of people who presented to a hospital emergency department with dental issues in 2014, 2015,2016,2017,2018 and 2019. Please itemise per year, and, where possible, per hospital.
The number of recorded presentations at Grey Base Hospital Emergency Department for dental issues and related matters (inclusive of dental trauma and injury during accidents) during the financial periods 1 July to 30 June, between 2014 and 2019 were as follows:
• 2014/15 – 71
• 2015/16 – 86
• 2016/17 – 107
• 2017/18 – 99
• 2018/19 – 87
2.What is the standard procedure when someone presents to the emergency department with a dental problem? Please explain standard procedure for cases where treatment is refused, and where treatment is administered.