❓ Hon Brian Ellis raises concerns about a nine-month service gap at the Allendale dental therapy centre in Geraldton due to a therapist's leave and lack of replacement. The Minister acknowledges the issue, citing a nationwide shortage and private sector competition.
AnsweredQoN 644Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOL DENTAL THERAPY SERVICE — GERALDTON 644. Hon BRIAN ELLIS to the minister representing the Minister for Health: I refer to school dental clinics in Geraldton. (1) Is the minister aware that the dental therapist at Allendale dental therapy centre is on leave until early 2009 and that all appointments at the clinic have been cancelled in the interim? (2) Has a replacement been found for the absent therapist; and, if not, why not? (3) Although it is understood that emergency treatments are available at the Bluff Point centre, given that school dental therapy centres have a focus on preventive dentistry, does the minister find this nine-month service gap acceptable? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
SCHOOL DENTAL THERAPY SERVICE — GERALDTON
I refer to school dental clinics in Geraldton. (1) Is the minister aware that the dental therapist at Allendale dental therapy centre is on leave until early 2009 and that all appointments at the clinic have been cancelled in the interim? (2) Has a replacement been found for the absent therapist; and, if not, why not? (3) Although it is understood that emergency treatments are available at the Bluff Point centre, given that school dental therapy centres have a focus on preventive dentistry, does the minister find this nine-month service gap acceptable? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
(1) Is the minister aware that the dental therapist at Allendale dental therapy centre is on leave until early 2009 and that all appointments at the clinic have been cancelled in the interim? (2) Has a replacement been found for the absent therapist; and, if not, why not? (3) Although it is understood that emergency treatments are available at the Bluff Point centre, given that school dental therapy centres have a focus on preventive dentistry, does the minister find this nine-month service gap acceptable? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
(2) Has a replacement been found for the absent therapist; and, if not, why not? (3) Although it is understood that emergency treatments are available at the Bluff Point centre, given that school dental therapy centres have a focus on preventive dentistry, does the minister find this nine-month service gap acceptable? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
(3) Although it is understood that emergency treatments are available at the Bluff Point centre, given that school dental therapy centres have a focus on preventive dentistry, does the minister find this nine-month service gap acceptable? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
(1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
SCHOOL DENTAL THERAPY SERVICE — GERALDTON
I refer to school dental clinics in Geraldton. (1) Is the minister aware that the dental therapist at Allendale dental therapy centre is on leave until early 2009 and that all appointments at the clinic have been cancelled in the interim? (2) Has a replacement been found for the absent therapist; and, if not, why not? (3) Although it is understood that emergency treatments are available at the Bluff Point centre, given that school dental therapy centres have a focus on preventive dentistry, does the minister find this nine-month service gap acceptable? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
(1) Is the minister aware that the dental therapist at Allendale dental therapy centre is on leave until early 2009 and that all appointments at the clinic have been cancelled in the interim? (2) Has a replacement been found for the absent therapist; and, if not, why not? (3) Although it is understood that emergency treatments are available at the Bluff Point centre, given that school dental therapy centres have a focus on preventive dentistry, does the minister find this nine-month service gap acceptable? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
(2) Has a replacement been found for the absent therapist; and, if not, why not? (3) Although it is understood that emergency treatments are available at the Bluff Point centre, given that school dental therapy centres have a focus on preventive dentistry, does the minister find this nine-month service gap acceptable? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
(3) Although it is understood that emergency treatments are available at the Bluff Point centre, given that school dental therapy centres have a focus on preventive dentistry, does the minister find this nine-month service gap acceptable? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
(1)-(3) All efforts to find a replacement dental therapist have been unsuccessful. Difficulties in attracting dental staff to the public sector are due to an Australia-wide shortage of dental staff and the significant rewards available in the private sector. The state government is strongly committed to the maintenance of effective dental health services. The Department of Health is in the process of finalising a workforce plan to address remuneration, attraction and retention issues.
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