10,000 left waiting for dental treatment

Alex de Vos
Almost 10,000 patients piled onto a waiting list for dental help in the Barwon South-West region last year, according to new figures.
A Department of Human Services report revealed the region’s patient waiting lists had jumped to 9804 in 2008.
In Geelong, 2213 patients were on the 2008 waiting list at Belmont, 2191 at Corio and 1556 at Newcomb.
The remainder of the waiting list was spread around towns and suburbs across the Barwon South-West region.
State opposition health spokesperson Helen Shardey called the waiting list increase “alarming”.
“There is something wrong in Victoria when the Brumby Labor Government allows patients to languish on dental waiting lists,” Ms Shardey said.
“Just as our hospitals are buckling under the pressure of increased demand and inadequate funding, Victorian dental health services simply cannot cope.”
Ms Shardey said waiting for dental treatment often led to worse outcomes for patients.
“Dental patients must be seen in a timely manner,” she said.
“Leaving them languishing on waiting lists for months contributes to the need for more complex treatment.”
But a spokesperson said State Government had invested more than $1.1 billion into oral health care to treat more patients and cut waiting lists.
“As part of this year’s budget, we’re continuing to take action to reduce dental waiting times by injecting $3.5 million over the next two years for a blitz, that will see 10,000 additional services in areas of the state with the longest waiting lists,” the spokesperson said.
“As part of this blitz, Barwon Health has been funded for an additional 1500 treatments over the next two years.”
The spokesperson blamed Ms Shardey for the lengthy waiting lists.
“Victorians are currently being prevented from receiving a massive dental funding boost, with the Commonwealth Dental Health Program being blocked by the opposition and minor parties in the Senate,” the spokesperson said.
“This is preventing $72.65 million flowing to Victoria for an additional 258,000 dental services over the next three years.
“Ms Shardey should talk to her federal Liberal colleagues about why they are stopping Victorians receiving this important boost.”