Hon. Barry House raises concerns about reduced operating hours at the West Busselton Dental Therapy Clinic due to a therapist reducing hours. The Minister confirms awareness and outlines plans to address the staffing shortage, including recruitment and placement of a new graduate.

AnsweredQoN 491Legislative Council
Asked
26 June 2007
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

WEST BUSSELTON DENTAL THERAPY CLINIC
I refer to question without notice 428 asked on 7 June, the answer to which advised that one full-time equivalent dental therapist was employed at West Busselton dental therapy clinic. (1) Is the minister aware that as of 23 July 2007, the clinic will be operated only three days a week, as the current dental therapist has reduced her working hours? (2) Is there any intention to hire a second dental therapist to work the other two days? (3) If no to (2), what other plans are being made to ensure a full-time service? Hon SUE ELLERY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. The dental therapist has reduced her working days to enable her to undertake further study. (2) Yes. The West Busselton dental therapy centre requires 1.5 FTE dental therapists, and advertising for a full-time dental therapist is being undertaken. (3) In addition to the short-term strategies outlined above, 11 trainee school dental therapists will graduate at the end of 2007, and one will be placed at West Busselton at the beginning of 2008.
(1) Is the minister aware that as of 23 July 2007, the clinic will be operated only three days a week, as the current dental therapist has reduced her working hours? (2) Is there any intention to hire a second dental therapist to work the other two days? (3) If no to (2), what other plans are being made to ensure a full-time service? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. The dental therapist has reduced her working days to enable her to undertake further study. (2) Yes. The West Busselton dental therapy centre requires 1.5 FTE dental therapists, and advertising for a full-time dental therapist is being undertaken. (3) In addition to the short-term strategies outlined above, 11 trainee school dental therapists will graduate at the end of 2007, and one will be placed at West Busselton at the beginning of 2008.
(2) Is there any intention to hire a second dental therapist to work the other two days? (3) If no to (2), what other plans are being made to ensure a full-time service? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. The dental therapist has reduced her working days to enable her to undertake further study. (2) Yes. The West Busselton dental therapy centre requires 1.5 FTE dental therapists, and advertising for a full-time dental therapist is being undertaken. (3) In addition to the short-term strategies outlined above, 11 trainee school dental therapists will graduate at the end of 2007, and one will be placed at West Busselton at the beginning of 2008.
(3) If no to (2), what other plans are being made to ensure a full-time service? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. The dental therapist has reduced her working days to enable her to undertake further study. (2) Yes. The West Busselton dental therapy centre requires 1.5 FTE dental therapists, and advertising for a full-time dental therapist is being undertaken. (3) In addition to the short-term strategies outlined above, 11 trainee school dental therapists will graduate at the end of 2007, and one will be placed at West Busselton at the beginning of 2008.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. The dental therapist has reduced her working days to enable her to undertake further study. (2) Yes. The West Busselton dental therapy centre requires 1.5 FTE dental therapists, and advertising for a full-time dental therapist is being undertaken. (3) In addition to the short-term strategies outlined above, 11 trainee school dental therapists will graduate at the end of 2007, and one will be placed at West Busselton at the beginning of 2008.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Yes. The dental therapist has reduced her working days to enable her to undertake further study. (2) Yes. The West Busselton dental therapy centre requires 1.5 FTE dental therapists, and advertising for a full-time dental therapist is being undertaken. (3) In addition to the short-term strategies outlined above, 11 trainee school dental therapists will graduate at the end of 2007, and one will be placed at West Busselton at the beginning of 2008.
(1) Yes. The dental therapist has reduced her working days to enable her to undertake further study. (2) Yes. The West Busselton dental therapy centre requires 1.5 FTE dental therapists, and advertising for a full-time dental therapist is being undertaken. (3) In addition to the short-term strategies outlined above, 11 trainee school dental therapists will graduate at the end of 2007, and one will be placed at West Busselton at the beginning of 2008.
(2) Yes. The West Busselton dental therapy centre requires 1.5 FTE dental therapists, and advertising for a full-time dental therapist is being undertaken. (3) In addition to the short-term strategies outlined above, 11 trainee school dental therapists will graduate at the end of 2007, and one will be placed at West Busselton at the beginning of 2008.
(3) In addition to the short-term strategies outlined above, 11 trainee school dental therapists will graduate at the end of 2007, and one will be placed at West Busselton at the beginning of 2008.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more