Over the course of two days in October 2023, a new Dental Clinic Initiative, funded by the Seafarers Hospital Society, took place at our Liverpool Seafarers Centre. This initiative was an extension of a successful pilot project undertaken by the centre, in partnership with Mersey Port Health, to encourage seafarers to prioritise their dental health. The pilot project had initially focused on investigating how seafarers accessed dental care, which led to the decision to establish a mobile dental surgery in Liverpool, with the support of the Seafarers Hospital Society and the Fishermen’s Mission.
The results of this initiative have been highly positive, with 23 seafarers receiving appointments with qualified dentists. These appointments included various treatments such as oral examinations, descaling and polishing, fillings, prescribed antibiotics, and extractions.
John Wilson, Chief Executive said: “On behalf of all seafarers and the Liverpool Seafarers Centre, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Seafarers Hospital Society for their generous funding of this two-day event. We also extend our thanks to all the individuals who contributed to the success of this initiative in any way. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the valuable support of local health providers who dedicated their time to promoting wellness among seafarers. Both Mersey Port Health and Manchester Port Health actively promoted and attended this two-day event, further enhancing its impact.”