Mr Waldron asks why the mobile dental van servicing Trayning cannot also service Bencubbin, given the lack of dental services since 2004. The Minister assures he will address the issue with urgency, exploring short-term contracts and raising it with Dental Health Services.

AnsweredQoN 354Legislative Assembly
Asked
15 June 2006
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

MOBILE DENTAL VAN SERVICE - BENCUBBIN
I ask a supplementary question. The minister said that a different van goes to Trayning. Why can the van not go to Bencubbin? Will the minister give us an assurance that that will happen in the next six months? Mr J.A. McGINTY

AnswerView source ↗

I give the assurance that I will take this matter up to try to get a greater sense of urgency about even a short-term contract. It is not acceptable to leave schoolchildren for such a long period - since 2004 - without a visit by dentists to their schools. As a result of this question, I will raise this issue directly with the Dental Health Services to put an arrangement in place to provide that service if we are unable to permanently recruit dentists. The answer to the Trayning-Bencubbin question is that the van is fully occupied doing particular things. If it had to do other things, it would disrupt the services it is currently providing. It is important to make sure that the people in the wheatbelt particularly, who are not getting an adequate service at the moment - and they are not - get that service, and I will take up the matter with the Department of Health.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I give the assurance that I will take this matter up to try to get a greater sense of urgency about even a short-term contract. It is not acceptable to leave schoolchildren for such a long period - since 2004 - without a visit by dentists to their schools. As a result of this question, I will raise this issue directly with the Dental Health Services to put an arrangement in place to provide that service if we are unable to permanently recruit dentists. The answer to the Trayning-Bencubbin question is that the van is fully occupied doing particular things. If it had to do other things, it would disrupt the services it is currently providing. It is important to make sure that the people in the wheatbelt particularly, who are not getting an adequate service at the moment - and they are not - get that service, and I will take up the matter with the Department of Health.
I give the assurance that I will take this matter up to try to get a greater sense of urgency about even a short-term contract. It is not acceptable to leave schoolchildren for such a long period - since 2004 - without a visit by dentists to their schools. As a result of this question, I will raise this issue directly with the Dental Health Services to put an arrangement in place to provide that service if we are unable to permanently recruit dentists. The answer to the Trayning-Bencubbin question is that the van is fully occupied doing particular things. If it had to do other things, it would disrupt the services it is currently providing. It is important to make sure that the people in the wheatbelt particularly, who are not getting an adequate service at the moment - and they are not - get that service, and I will take up the matter with the Department of Health.

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