Inclusive dental clinic in Volmarstein wins social award

Since 2019, the residents of the two special care facilities of the Evangelische Stiftung Volmarstein have had their own dental outpatient clinic. This special joint project with the dental clinic at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) has been honoured with the "innovatio" social award. This prize is awarded to specific church welfare projects that open up new prospects for people. The prize money of 4000 euros will be used to purchase an X-ray machine.

"The dental outpatient clinic contributes to reducing socially induced inequalities in health opportunities," says the award citation. It is a nationwide dental pilot project in which care is provided at the patient's home. Specifically, there are around 130 people with severe disabilities who live in Haus Bethanien and Hans-Vietor-Haus in Volmarstein. Every Tuesday, Dr Peter Schmidt, senior physician at the dental clinic at Witten/Herdecke University, comes to Haus Bethanien for them. The outpatient clinic has been set up there with the usual equipment.

This was a great relief for the residents of the two facilities: until now, they always had to be accompanied to the UW/H dental clinic in Witten for all dental problems. "Such an appointment took three to four hours and was extremely stressful," explains Felicitas Kleeberg, Head of Socio-Therapeutic Services in Specialised Care at the Volmarstein Foundation. Thanks to the on-site outpatient clinic in Volmarstein, the appointments are now much shorter. "And because they take place in familiar surroundings, they are also much more relaxed for the patients," reports Dr Peter Schmidt.