❓ A parliamentary question regarding the closure of mobile dental services in several country towns. The Minister acknowledges the issue, attributing it to workforce shortages and outlining efforts to improve staff attraction and retention.
AnsweredQoN 272Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COUNTRY MOBILE DENTAL SERVICES 272. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Minister for Health: I refer the minister to the closure of the mobile dental service to schools at Bridgetown, Greenbushes, Nannup, Boyup Brook, Donnybrook and Balingup. (1) Will the minister provide an assurance to these communities that their mobile school dental service will reopen, and advise when that is likely to occur? (2) Given that this is the seventh country mobile school dental service to be closed this year, will the minister now acknowledge that under his administration this vital regional health service is being run down and eroded out of existence? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
COUNTRY MOBILE DENTAL SERVICES
I refer the minister to the closure of the mobile dental service to schools at Bridgetown, Greenbushes, Nannup, Boyup Brook, Donnybrook and Balingup. (1) Will the minister provide an assurance to these communities that their mobile school dental service will reopen, and advise when that is likely to occur? (2) Given that this is the seventh country mobile school dental service to be closed this year, will the minister now acknowledge that under his administration this vital regional health service is being run down and eroded out of existence? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
(1) Will the minister provide an assurance to these communities that their mobile school dental service will reopen, and advise when that is likely to occur? (2) Given that this is the seventh country mobile school dental service to be closed this year, will the minister now acknowledge that under his administration this vital regional health service is being run down and eroded out of existence? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
(2) Given that this is the seventh country mobile school dental service to be closed this year, will the minister now acknowledge that under his administration this vital regional health service is being run down and eroded out of existence? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
(1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
COUNTRY MOBILE DENTAL SERVICES
I refer the minister to the closure of the mobile dental service to schools at Bridgetown, Greenbushes, Nannup, Boyup Brook, Donnybrook and Balingup. (1) Will the minister provide an assurance to these communities that their mobile school dental service will reopen, and advise when that is likely to occur? (2) Given that this is the seventh country mobile school dental service to be closed this year, will the minister now acknowledge that under his administration this vital regional health service is being run down and eroded out of existence? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
(1) Will the minister provide an assurance to these communities that their mobile school dental service will reopen, and advise when that is likely to occur? (2) Given that this is the seventh country mobile school dental service to be closed this year, will the minister now acknowledge that under his administration this vital regional health service is being run down and eroded out of existence? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
(2) Given that this is the seventh country mobile school dental service to be closed this year, will the minister now acknowledge that under his administration this vital regional health service is being run down and eroded out of existence? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
(1)-(2) I thank the member very much for the question. The major challenge facing the Western Australian school dental service is one of workforce. We have in Western Australia a remarkably good school dental service by any international standard. In recent times we have been severely challenged when it comes to staffing matters—we are no orphan in this regard—and our ability to recruit sufficient assistants, therapists and dentists to adequately maintain the service. The discussions that I have had with the department, and also input from representatives of the workforce, indicate to me that it is about putting in place appropriate attraction and retention arrangements so that we are able to attract more staff at all levels to come into and stay in the system. It is an issue to which I have given top priority. I am currently progressing a proposition that will, hopefully, address the needs of the workforce in such a way that we can increase the workforce. It is not a question of funding. Positions have been set aside. We simply have been unable to recruit and retain the people who are necessary for the provision of that service. I very much regret that we have encountered service delivery difficulties. When it became apparent to me that there was an issue there, I gave it priority to ensure that we could offer a sufficiently attractive package to attract and retain staff. That is the key to this issue.
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