At Smile Together we’re all about tackling oral health inequality for healthier happier communities, often working in partnership for an even greater collective impact. We are therefore delighted to have supported Cornwall Health for Homeless with their multi-disciplinary pop-up clinics in locations right across the county.
Providing a range of services from health checks, Covid vaccinations, liver screening and dentistry through to support for those in temporary accommodation and help with mental health, drug and alcohol misuse, the 2022 programme culminated once again in a December pop-up hosted in our Harleigh Road Dental Centre in Bodmin.
The outcome was fantastic with multiple rooms allowing for a host of healthcare provision including dental check-ups and urgent treatment with the Smile Together team, Healthy Cornwall health checks and liver screening, Covid and flu vaccinations, confidential support with alcohol, drugs or mental health through Pentreath and We Are With You, and even hair and beauty from Iconic Cornwall. Volunteer Cornwall supported on the day and folk were able to travel to and from the location for free on a Group Travel minibus. One patient who came in for the liver screening ended up seeing the dentist, Rebecca, and having two teeth removed – she has since been in touch to say thank you to everyone as this is the first time she has been pain free in 5 years!
As well as donating 7 Christmas dinners in a box in support for the #CornwallChristmasBox appeal with lots of extra goodies to make a feast for families in need, our generous Smile Together colleagues had also made up oral health packs (including toothbrushes kindly donated by Curaden) and Christmas gift boxes based on advice from Shelter. These included oral health products, hats, gloves, handwarmers, a puzzle book, clean underwear, baby wipes, talcum powder and sanitary products for women.
Food packs were also provided on the day with generous donations from Morrisons, Barnecutt’s Bakery, Proper Cornish Bakery, Aldi, Asda and Celtic Produce.
Our teams thoroughly enjoy collaborating with other allied health professionals and these pop-up events make such a difference to vulnerable people. Colleagues from almost every Smile Together location have supported Health for Homeless pop-ups this year, which were also embedded into our Smiles at Sea harbourside tour with our mobile dental unit. We are thrilled to be a part of this vitally important integrated healthcare project in Cornwall (and some colleagues also benefited from health checks and boosters along the way)!
