Incentives are needed to get dentists in Southland as most practices have stopped taking new patients and closed waiting lists, industry officials and patients say. The New Zealand Dental Association president says Southland practices need to do more to incentivise dentists to the region amid the backlogs. Southland dentists have raised the shortage as a concern,” Ayers said. Dental association Southland president Kelvin Khoo said most Southland practices had not been taking new patients for six months, and those that were had long wait lists. Southland practices needed to look at better remuneration for dentists to attract workers south, though doctors and general practitioners faced similar pressures, he said.

Source: Stuff July 03, 2021 23:37 UTC