BERAKAS GARRISON, Wednesday, 22 February 2023 – The Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC) Chief Dental Officer Defence, United Kingdom (UK), Group Captain (Gp Capt) Neil McBeth, accompanied by two UK Senior Dental Officers made a working visit to Dental Services Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) whilst in Brunei to conduct governance assurance assessments in Seria Garrison. Accompanying Gp Capt Neil McBeth were Surgeon Commander (D) Tony Hands, HQ Dental SO1 Policy and Plans, and Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Alun Thomas, Regional Senior Dental Officer (RSDO) Overseas.
The visit started with a tour of the Dental Centres in Tutong Camp and Penanjong Garrison. It continued with a visit to Dental Services RBLF Headquarters in Berakas Garrison where Colonel (Dr) Jefri bin Haji Abdul Razak, Chief Dental Officer (CDO) RBLF delivered his brief on the organisational structure, developments achieved since the 2010 Strategic Plan and future aspirations laid out in the recent 2022 Strategic Plan as Dental Services RBLF, launched in commemoration of its Golden Jubilee Anniversary Celebrations last year. During discussion session, both highlighted the growing defence relations between the two countries as well as continuing British Loan Service Support to Dental Services RBLF.
As part of his visit programme, Gp Capt Neil McBeth and delegation were taken for a tour of the Dental Centre in Berakas Garrison with a focus on the recent acquisition of two new Dental Chairs, a new Digital Dental Radiography system and the new 3D Cone-beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) X-Ray machine which forms the early adoption of the Digital Dentistry concept. The tour continued to the Dental Laboratory Services as well as a static display of the current Field Dentistry Capabilities, showcasing the newly acquired Mobile Dental Units. An official lunch hosted by the CDO RBLF was also held at the Berakas Officers Mess. It commenced with a group photo session and concluded with the presentation of mementos. The visit ended with a brief tour of the Dental Centre in Muara Naval Base.
The aim of this visit was to conduct Defence Engagement discussions over the delivery of Primary Dental Care and to visit four of the six Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Dental Centres. It also enables CDO RBLF and CDO Defence UK to gain a deeper understanding of each other’s organisational roles, functions and services provided to their respective military patients, sharing experiences of common challenges faced whilst further strengthening the bilateral ties between Dental Services Defence RBLF and Defence Dental Services UK.
KHIDMAT PERGIGIAN TENTERA DARAT DIRAJA BRUNEI TERIMA LAWATAN KERJA KETUA PEGAWAI PERGIGIAN PERTAHANAN UNITED KINGDOM
BERAKAS GARISON, Rabu, 22 Februari 2023 – Ketua Pegawai Pergigian Pertahanan United Kingdom, Group Captain (Gp Capt) Neil McBeth telah membuat lawatan kerja ke Khidmat Pergigian Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei (TDDB) pada hari ini bersama dua Pegawai Pergigian Kanan United Kingdom (UK) iaitu Surgical Commander (D) Tony Hands – HQ Dental SO1 Policy and Plans dan Leftenan Kolonel Alun Thomas, Regional Senior Dental Officer Overseas. Ada pun keberadaan mereka di Negara Brunei Darussalam ialah bagi melaksanakan pemeriksaan audit klinikal pergigian di Seria Garison.
Lawatan dimulakan dengan mengunjungi Pusat Pergigian di Perkhemahan Tutong dan Penanjong Garison dan diteruskan dengan lawatan ke Markas Khidmat Pergigian TDDB di Berakas Garison. Semasa lawatan di Markas Khidmat Pergigian TDDB, Kolonel (Dr) Jefri bin Haji Abdul Razak, Ketua Pegawai Pergigian TDDB telah menyampaikan taklimat mengenai struktur organisasi, perkembangan yang dicapai sejak Pelan Strategik Pergigian 2010 dilancarkan serta aspirasi perancangan masa depan mengikut Pelan Strategik 2022 sempena sambutan Jubli Emas Khidmat Pergigian TDDB pada tahun 2021 yang lalu. Melalui sesi perbincangan yang dijalankan, kedua pihak menekankan hubungan ketenteraan yang semakin meningkat di samping penerusan bantuan Askar Pinjaman British untuk terus bertugas di Khidmat Pergigian TDDB.
Gp Capt Neil McBeth dan rombongan juga berpeluang melawat prasarana di Markas Khidmat Pergigian dengan tumpuan pembelian kelengkapan yang baru merangkumi dua Kerusi Rawatan Pergigian, Sistem Radiografi Digital dan Mesin 3D Cone-beam Computed Tomography CBCT X-Ray ke arah merealisasikan konsep Digital Dentistry. Lawatan diteruskan ke Perkhidmatan Makmal Pergigian dan menyaksikan pameran statik keupayaan Perkhidmatan Pergigian Medan yang mempamerkan beberapa kelengkapan pergigian medan baru. Majlis Makan Tengahari yang dihoskan oleh Ketua Pegawai Pergigian turut diadakan di Mes Pegawai Berakas Garison yang dimulakan dengan sesi bergambar ramai dan diakhiri dengan penyampaian cenderahati kenangan. Lawatan tersebut berakhir dengan lawatan ke Pusat Pergigian Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei, Pangkalan Muara.
Tujuan lawatan adalah untuk mengadakan perbincangan pertahanan secara holistik mengenai pelaksanaan perkhidmatan pergigian am di samping untuk melihat empat dari enam prasarana milik Khidmat Pergigian TDDB. Ia juga memberikan peluang berharga bagi kedua-dua Ketua Pegawai Pergigian dalam memahami dengan lebih lanjut tentang organisasi, peranan dan perkhidmatan yang diselenggarakan kepada warga pesakit tentera masing-masing, berkongsi pengalaman dalam mengatasi cabaran yang dihadapi serta mengeratkan lagi hubungan dua hala di antara Khidmat Pergigian TDDB dan Perkhidmatan Pergigian Pertahanan UK.