❓ A parliamentary question addresses funding for orthodontic treatment at the Bunbury Dental Clinic, waitlist concerns, and the timing of fund allocation. The Minister clarifies that funding has increased, there's no cutback, and the waitlist increase is due to earlier referrals, with many not requiring immediate treatment.
AnsweredQoN 1095Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Why have funds not been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic for children receiving orthodontic treatment since the change of government last year? (2) Is the minister aware that because of this funding cutback there is currently a waiting list of 134 children seeking treatment compared with a normal annual waiting list of 30-40 children, which is readily cleared up? (3) When will funds be allocated to provide these children with this urgently needed orthodontic treatment? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
(2) Is the minister aware that because of this funding cutback there is currently a waiting list of 134 children seeking treatment compared with a normal annual waiting list of 30-40 children, which is readily cleared up? (3) When will funds be allocated to provide these children with this urgently needed orthodontic treatment? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
(3) When will funds be allocated to provide these children with this urgently needed orthodontic treatment? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
(1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
(2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
(2) Is the minister aware that because of this funding cutback there is currently a waiting list of 134 children seeking treatment compared with a normal annual waiting list of 30-40 children, which is readily cleared up? (3) When will funds be allocated to provide these children with this urgently needed orthodontic treatment? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
(3) When will funds be allocated to provide these children with this urgently needed orthodontic treatment? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
(1) Funds have been allocated to the Bunbury Dental Clinic. The current allocation is greater than the allocation in the previous budget. Currently, $80 000 per annum is allocated to the provision of subsidised orthodontic services to eligible patients in Bunbury. (2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
(2) There has been no funding cutback for subsidised orthodontic treatment in Bunbury. The waiting list has appeared to increase due to a greater number of younger patients being referred earlier by the school dental service over the past six to 12 months. However, it is estimated that 30 to 50 per cent of patients on the waiting list will not need orthodontic treatment. Many of the younger patients are not currently waiting for care but will remain on the waiting list for up to three or four years before treatment can be appropriately commenced. (3) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
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