❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Health regarding staffing shortages in school and adult dental clinics across Western Australia, particularly in areas without fluoridated water, and seeks information on government actions to address these issues. The answer reveals specific locations with staffing shortages and outlines recruitment efforts.
AnsweredQoN 741Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to closure of and ‘empty chairs’ at school and adult public dental clinics, and ask -
(1) Which locations in Western Australia are currently not consistently served by a fully staffed school dental clinic?
(2) Which locations in Western Australia are currently not consistently served by a fully staffed public dental clinic for adults?
(3) Which of the locations referred to in (1) and (2), do not have access to a public source of fluoridated water?
(4) Please list all steps the Government is currently taking to improve consistent access by children and adults to public dental clinics?
(5) In relation to (4), what is the time frame for each of these steps?
(1) Which locations in Western Australia are currently not consistently served by a fully staffed school dental clinic?
(2) Which locations in Western Australia are currently not consistently served by a fully staffed public dental clinic for adults?
(3) Which of the locations referred to in (1) and (2), do not have access to a public source of fluoridated water?
(4) Please list all steps the Government is currently taking to improve consistent access by children and adults to public dental clinics?
(5) In relation to (4), what is the time frame for each of these steps?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
4 June 2009
Responded by
Minister for Transport representing the Minister for Health
Response time
16 days
(1) At 22 May 2009 the following school dental clinics (Dental Therapy Centres) were not fully staffed: Port/South Hedland; Tom Price; Fitzroy Crossing; Carnarvon; and Kununurra.
(2) The following locations are currently not served by a fully staffed dental clinic for adults: Fitzroy Crossing; Albany; Exmouth; South Hedland; and Kalgoorlie.
There are a number of clinics which are not open all year as the demand for care does not require that level of staffing and there are many locations served by a visiting service. These locations are considered "fully staffed".
(3) Nil.
(4) The following steps are being taken to improve access to public dental services:
A rigorous recruitment campaign has seen 22 new dentists and 11 school dental therapists recruited over the past year.
An enhanced remuneration package for dental clinicians was announced on 8 July 2008.
· An examination of recruitment and retention in the development of a draft for a dental workforce plan identified a number of ways attraction and retention could be enhanced. Many of these have been implemented.
(5) The recruitment campaign is ongoing.
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(2) The following locations are currently not served by a fully staffed dental clinic for adults: Fitzroy Crossing; Albany; Exmouth; South Hedland; and Kalgoorlie.
There are a number of clinics which are not open all year as the demand for care does not require that level of staffing and there are many locations served by a visiting service. These locations are considered "fully staffed".
(3) Nil.
(4) The following steps are being taken to improve access to public dental services:
A rigorous recruitment campaign has seen 22 new dentists and 11 school dental therapists recruited over the past year.
An enhanced remuneration package for dental clinicians was announced on 8 July 2008.
· An examination of recruitment and retention in the development of a draft for a dental workforce plan identified a number of ways attraction and retention could be enhanced. Many of these have been implemented.
(5) The recruitment campaign is ongoing.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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