News & Links
<< News & Links10th Feb 2008
Diaco is firmly established on the disability RADAR
The Royal Association of Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) the UK's leading charity representing disabled people has written a white paper recommending that every Primary Care Trust in England and Wales installs a diaco® dental chair because of concerns that wheelchair users are not receiving the same level of dental treatment as non-wheelchair users.
RADAR says the difficulty in transferring a wheelchair user to a standard dental chair results in a level of care inferior to that of more able-bodied people. They believe the problem is easy to solve, and needs to be done in accordance with The Disability Equality Duty and Disability Equality Schemes developed by Primary Care Trusts, which seek to address discrimination and inequality.
The charity says that when a wheelchair patient remains seated while receiving treatment, there is a greater likelihood that their teeth will be pulled out. This is because it is very difficult for a dentist to do any detailed work with the patient in an upright position. Chris Brace, Director of Campaigns for RADAR, said: "Where dental decay is concerned, people with disabilities are more likely to have their teeth removed rather than have fillings or crowns."
As a result, RADAR is calling on PCTs to install diaco® dental chairs, which allow wheelchair users to remain in the safety of their own wheelchair while receiving dental treatment. The dental chair suitable for both standard and electric wheelchairs is ready for use within two minutes of being moved into position, and ensures the patient is at the correct angle for the dentist to safely carry out work.
No modification needs to be made to the surgery or equipment, and because of its built-in electric drive, it can be wheeled easily in and out of storage or between surgeries and departments. It can also be used for any person who has difficulty getting into a standard dental chair or sitting in one for any length of time. In addition, it will ensure that Primary Care Trusts do not become liable for any injury that dentists may suffer while treating wheelchair-users without the appropriate equipment to do so.
The diaco® dental chair gives wheelchair-users dignity and equality when receiving dental treatment. Chris Brace said: "If every PCT in the country had a diaco dental chair it would be a significant development in ensuring access for all and would represent a real commitment to fulfilling the requirements of the Disability Equality Duty. It will make a massive improvement to the equality and dignity of wheelchair-users."
Apart from the inequalities faced by wheelchair users who visit the dentist, there are also health and safety issues with manually transferring wheelchair patients into a dentist's chair. A dentist can either use a hoist, which is both precarious and time consuming, or they have to call on colleagues to help them manually lift the patient from the wheelchair. Either scenario can result in injury to the patient and the dental staff, as well as causing embarrassment and anxiety for all concerned.
RADAR is the UK's leading charity working to represent the needs of over 10.8 million disabled people in the UK, campaigning on behalf of over 750 disability organisations to promote equality for all disabled people. They play a key role at the heart of the disability movement, acting independently and clarifying the needs and expectations of disabled people to Westminster and Whitehall. Their call for the introduction of diaco dental chairs throughout the NHS is the latest campaign being fought on behalf of people with disabilities.
Download the full Radar Position paper on 'Wheelchair Accessible Dentistry'
