❓ Mr. Love questions the Minister for Health about the lack of school dental services in the Murchison region, impacting Aboriginal students. The Minister responds that a new dental van is nearing completion and staffing is being addressed, along with improvements to the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme.
AnsweredQoN 409Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
School dental service—Mid West
409. Mr Shane Love to
the Minister for Health:
Families in
Murchison with towns that have a high proportion of Aboriginal students, such
as Yalgoo, Mount Magnet, Meekatharra and Cue, have been left without a school
dental service for two years. They are left with no access to preventive oral
health care. Given the absence of fluoridated water and the well-established
link between oral care and overall health and wellbeing, why has the government
failed to restore this essential service, and when will it be back on the
ground in the Murchison?
409. Mr Shane Love to
the Minister for Health:
Families in
Murchison with towns that have a high proportion of Aboriginal students, such
as Yalgoo, Mount Magnet, Meekatharra and Cue, have been left without a school
dental service for two years. They are left with no access to preventive oral
health care. Given the absence of fluoridated water and the well-established
link between oral care and overall health and wellbeing, why has the government
failed to restore this essential service, and when will it be back on the
ground in the Murchison?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. We understand how important dental health is for all people
so that they can access dental services in the regions. The member will be
pleased to know that I have been advised the new Murchison dental van is
nearing readiness. It is with the manufacturer for ongoing testing to rectify some
identified issues. The van will be an excellent addition. It will include
towing apparatus, self-leveling stabiliser legs and a lift panel to aid
patients who have mobility difficulties to access the clinic.
The new style of
vans was procured and designed to provide quality dental services to patients
no matter where they live. We know that this will be important in the member's region.
We are expecting that van to be available soon. It also requires us to have
staff. The member will understand that there have been global workforce
pressures in relation to finding appropriate staff, including dentists, but we
are working—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, your
constant interjection is not required.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We understand the importance of
this service and we are actively recruiting for vacant dental officer positions.
Where required, we are also utilising locum dental officers to provide support.
We are looking at a range of ways that we can provide that staffing support to
the regions. As I said, the van remains near readiness. Of course, as the
member knows, we have also increased the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme, and
part of our commitment is that it be expanded to include dental. We look
forward to that being rolled out at some stage in the near future.
for the question. We understand how important dental health is for all people
so that they can access dental services in the regions. The member will be
pleased to know that I have been advised the new Murchison dental van is
nearing readiness. It is with the manufacturer for ongoing testing to rectify some
identified issues. The van will be an excellent addition. It will include
towing apparatus, self-leveling stabiliser legs and a lift panel to aid
patients who have mobility difficulties to access the clinic.
The new style of
vans was procured and designed to provide quality dental services to patients
no matter where they live. We know that this will be important in the member's region.
We are expecting that van to be available soon. It also requires us to have
staff. The member will understand that there have been global workforce
pressures in relation to finding appropriate staff, including dentists, but we
are working—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, your
constant interjection is not required.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We understand the importance of
this service and we are actively recruiting for vacant dental officer positions.
Where required, we are also utilising locum dental officers to provide support.
We are looking at a range of ways that we can provide that staffing support to
the regions. As I said, the van remains near readiness. Of course, as the
member knows, we have also increased the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme, and
part of our commitment is that it be expanded to include dental. We look
forward to that being rolled out at some stage in the near future.
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