❓ Question regarding public dental waitlists, staffing levels, and wait times in the South West region, specifically Busselton and Bunbury, for 2013, 2014 and 2015. The answer reveals long wait times and staffing fluctuations.
AnsweredQoN 3116Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) As at 1 September 2013 and 2014, how many people were on the public dental wait list in the South West region? (2) In relation to Busselton and Bunbury, for each of the years 2013 and 2014, what was the average wait time for a dental appointment? (3) As at 1 September 2013 and 2014, how many FTE dentists, dental therapists, dental assistants and dental nurses were allocated at each Busselton and Bunbury? (4) For each Busselton and Bunbury, are there any positions currently vacant and, if yes, which positions and for how long have they been vacant? (5) For each Busselton and Bunbury, how many people are currently on the wait list for dental appointments?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 June 2015
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
40 days
(1) As at 1 September 2013 there were 960 people and as at 1 September 2014 there were 723 people.
(2) Emergency urgent care is usually provided on the day of presentation.
The average wait times for non-urgent care have been as follows:
Public Dental Clinic
2013 (as at 1 September)
2014 (as at 1 September)
Bunbury
13.2 months
11.7 months
Busselton
21.8 months
12.8 months
(3)
Public Dental Clinic
Dentists FTE
Dental Assistants FTE
1 September 2013
Bunbury
7.0
11.5
Busselton
1.8
3.0
1 September 2014
Bunbury
5.0
7.0
Busselton
4.0
6.0
Note: Dental Therapists are not employed in the Busselton or Bunbury Public Dental Clinics. Dental Nurses are not employed by Dental Health Services.
(4) As at 7 May 2015, yes. There was one Reception Officer position, vacant for six months, at the Bunbury Public Dental Clinic and a recruitment process is currently underway to fill this position. There were no vacancies at the Busselton Public Dental Clinic.
(5)
As at 7 May 2015 there were 814 people on the wait list for a dental appointment at the Bunbury Public Dental Clinic and 372 people on the wait list for a dental appointment at the Busselton Public Dental Clinic.
(2) Emergency urgent care is usually provided on the day of presentation.
The average wait times for non-urgent care have been as follows:
Public Dental Clinic
2013 (as at 1 September)
2014 (as at 1 September)
Bunbury
13.2 months
11.7 months
Busselton
21.8 months
12.8 months
(3)
Public Dental Clinic
Dentists FTE
Dental Assistants FTE
1 September 2013
Bunbury
7.0
11.5
Busselton
1.8
3.0
1 September 2014
Bunbury
5.0
7.0
Busselton
4.0
6.0
Note: Dental Therapists are not employed in the Busselton or Bunbury Public Dental Clinics. Dental Nurses are not employed by Dental Health Services.
(4) As at 7 May 2015, yes. There was one Reception Officer position, vacant for six months, at the Bunbury Public Dental Clinic and a recruitment process is currently underway to fill this position. There were no vacancies at the Busselton Public Dental Clinic.
(5)
As at 7 May 2015 there were 814 people on the wait list for a dental appointment at the Bunbury Public Dental Clinic and 372 people on the wait list for a dental appointment at the Busselton Public Dental Clinic.
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