Page 1885 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 2 May 2012
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Whilst dental numbers nationally remain a national problem, the ACT is now well placed to ensure a full complement of public sector dentists. Additional funding in the 2007-08 budget provided a further $1.7 million to the dental health program over four years to increase access to care. This has seen additional clients being removed from the waiting lists for treatment, a growth in the number of dentists participating in the ACT restorative referral scheme and more support for payment plans for clients referred to the scheme.
Like Ms Bresnan, the ACT government welcomes the finding and report of the National Advisory Council on Dental Health, which outlines options and priorities for consideration in the 2012-13 commonwealth budget. The government also urges the federal government to accept the recommendations of the national advisory council around meeting the long-term goal of providing equitable access to dental care for all Australians.
The government supports Ms Bresnan’s call for the Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly to write to the federal health minister and others on this matter. The ACT government is committed to providing and improving the provision of public dental services to the ACT and looks forward to discussions with the commonwealth at the intergovernmental level on a model of care and funding to improve access to dental services and the oral health status of Australians. Thank you, Ms Bresnan, for this opportunity to address this important and complex issue.
MR HANSON (Molonglo) (6.20): I thank Ms Bresnan for bringing this matter before the Assembly. I rise today to speak in support of providing timely and comprehensive dental services in the ACT. There is no doubt that good dental and oral health is fundamental to overall wellbeing.
As many of us know, there is considerable pain and discomfort that can arise from oral health problems. For people with chronic problems and ongoing issues, this pain is considerable. It can impact on their ability to eat a balanced diet. It can affect appearance, self-esteem and their quality of life. The social impact of having a missing tooth or an inability to join in a communal meal can have a significant effect on a person and their capacity to interact in the community.
Additionally, the association between dental disease and specific medical conditions is becoming more established. The Heart Foundation publishes widely on the need to undertake daily oral health habits, like brushing and flossing, to help prevent health disease. Infections in your gums can lead to the development of infections and diseases in other parts of your body.
The statistics stated in the motion, of a mean waiting time of 12 months for restorative dental treatment for adults, are concerning. As I highlighted, the pain and social impediment that may arise from oral health problems is enough reason in itself to view 12 months as too long to wait for treatment. I note that the 2011-12 Health annual report states that the target for the mean waiting time is 12 months. This appears to indicate that the ACT government is not putting significant effort into decreasing the mean waiting time. This is why we support the part of the motion that calls on the ACT government to outline to the Assembly what action is being taken to reduce this waiting time.
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