An Evaluation of the Reorientation of Child and Adolescent Oral Health Services

Summary

Over the last eight years the Government has made a significant reinvestment in child and adolescent oral health services to create the Community Oral Health Service (COHS).

The Ministry commissioned the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) to undertake an evaluation of the reorientation of child and adolescent oral health services. The ESR evaluation had three aims:

• to determine the effectiveness of the reinvestment programme, including business case development and the implementation process
• to identify barriers and enablers associated with the reinvestment programme
• to make recommendations to support ongoing implementation.

Overall, the report is positive about the implementation of the reinvestment programme to date. It confirmed that the new model of care had resulted in improvements in the quality, experience and outcomes of oral health services. The evaluation report also made a number of recommendations to enhance the COHS.