❓ Hon Barbara Scott asks about the long-term operation of primary school dental clinics in Rockingham-Kwinana given potential staffing shortages. The Minister assures commitment to maintaining services, acknowledges workforce challenges, and outlines plans to address them, including short-term closures with emergency provisions.
AnsweredQoN 679Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PRIMARY SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS — ROCKINGHAM-KWINANA
Will the minister give an assurance that all of the seven primary school dental clinics in the Rockingham-Kwinana area will remain fully operational in the long term despite the impending crisis in attracting qualified dental therapists? Hon SUE ELLERY
Will the minister give an assurance that all of the seven primary school dental clinics in the Rockingham-Kwinana area will remain fully operational in the long term despite the impending crisis in attracting qualified dental therapists? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health is strongly committed to the maintenance of the school dental service in Western Australia. The government is aware of the retention and attraction problems facing dental health services and resultant clinic closures. The government is preparing a workforce plan and remuneration package to attract and retain staff within dental health services. Currently, all of the seven dental therapy centres in the Rockingham-Kwinana area are open. Some short-term closures will occur later in the year to allow staff to take leave. During these closures an emergency centre will be nominated to enable same-day treatment of any emergencies.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health is strongly committed to the maintenance of the school dental service in Western Australia. The government is aware of the retention and attraction problems facing dental health services and resultant clinic closures. The government is preparing a workforce plan and remuneration package to attract and retain staff within dental health services. Currently, all of the seven dental therapy centres in the Rockingham-Kwinana area are open. Some short-term closures will occur later in the year to allow staff to take leave. During these closures an emergency centre will be nominated to enable same-day treatment of any emergencies.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health is strongly committed to the maintenance of the school dental service in Western Australia. The government is aware of the retention and attraction problems facing dental health services and resultant clinic closures. The government is preparing a workforce plan and remuneration package to attract and retain staff within dental health services. Currently, all of the seven dental therapy centres in the Rockingham-Kwinana area are open. Some short-term closures will occur later in the year to allow staff to take leave. During these closures an emergency centre will be nominated to enable same-day treatment of any emergencies.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health is strongly committed to the maintenance of the school dental service in Western Australia. The government is aware of the retention and attraction problems facing dental health services and resultant clinic closures. The government is preparing a workforce plan and remuneration package to attract and retain staff within dental health services. Currently, all of the seven dental therapy centres in the Rockingham-Kwinana area are open. Some short-term closures will occur later in the year to allow staff to take leave. During these closures an emergency centre will be nominated to enable same-day treatment of any emergencies.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health is strongly committed to the maintenance of the school dental service in Western Australia. The government is aware of the retention and attraction problems facing dental health services and resultant clinic closures. The government is preparing a workforce plan and remuneration package to attract and retain staff within dental health services. Currently, all of the seven dental therapy centres in the Rockingham-Kwinana area are open. Some short-term closures will occur later in the year to allow staff to take leave. During these closures an emergency centre will be nominated to enable same-day treatment of any emergencies.
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