❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses school dental service closures, computer provision for record keeping, and waiting times for children in the South West. The government cites staff shortages, cost, and existing system development as reasons for current policies.
AnsweredQoN 146Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICES
I refer to school dental services. (1) How many school dental clinics have closed since the beginning of the school year? (2) What is the reason for these closures? (3) Why will the government not provide school dental clinics with computers for record keeping? (4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY
I refer to school dental services. (1) How many school dental clinics have closed since the beginning of the school year? (2) What is the reason for these closures? (3) Why will the government not provide school dental clinics with computers for record keeping? (4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(1) How many school dental clinics have closed since the beginning of the school year? (2) What is the reason for these closures? (3) Why will the government not provide school dental clinics with computers for record keeping? (4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(2) What is the reason for these closures? (3) Why will the government not provide school dental clinics with computers for record keeping? (4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(3) Why will the government not provide school dental clinics with computers for record keeping? (4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(1) How many school dental clinics have closed since the beginning of the school year? (2) What is the reason for these closures? (3) Why will the government not provide school dental clinics with computers for record keeping? (4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(2) What is the reason for these closures? (3) Why will the government not provide school dental clinics with computers for record keeping? (4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(3) Why will the government not provide school dental clinics with computers for record keeping? (4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(4) What is the time delay in months for children in the south west awaiting dental care via school dental services? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(1) Six. These are Harvey mobile, Tapping, Jurien mobile, Tom Price mobile, Carnarvon and Port Hedland. (2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(2) Staff shortages. (3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
(3) The service has developed a highly functional patient management system for the adult dental service. It is planned to further improve this system with the implementation of an electronic patient record within the next 12 months. Development will then commence on adapting this system for use in the school dental service. The PMS has a high degree of functionality which allows the tracking of patients and their clinical records around the state. The current off-the-shelf dental practice programs do not offer this degree of functionality. The considerable capital and recurrent costs of implementing a system, ongoing support and training and provision of computers at each dental therapy centre does not justify the investment at this time. (4) The current median waiting period for school dental services in the south west is 20.4 months.
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