HOPES for the future of dental care in the west hinge on the state government’s May budget, according to the Western Region Health Centre.
A taskforce investigating Footscray’s long-troubled dental clinic, chaired by western suburbs MP Andrew Elsbury, last year reported vermin, termites, electrical hazards and rusty chairs were just some of the challenges putting the service at risk.
The taskforce identified seven options to improve infrastructure and services, including a $9 million option to join adult and child dental services — now split over two sites — to one redeveloped 12-chair dental clinic on the Paisley Street site.
WRHC is the largest provider of public emergency and general dental care in Melbourne’s west. Deputy CEO Nicole Bartholomeusz this week told the Weekly the government was fully briefed and aware of the dire situation of the centre’s dental facilities and of the urgent need for new facilities to ensure the health and well-being of residents.
“The age of our dental buildings, built in the 1960s, and equipment limits the range and type of services we can deliver, and it places uncertainty around how long we can continue to deliver vital dental services to the community,” she said. “Many of our 10,000-plus dental clients are among the community’s most vulnerable, including refugees, mentally ill and homeless people, who without access to public dental care would be unable to access treatment.”
WRHC has been working with local and state governments to advocate for the people of Melbourne’s west, arguing good dental health is vital for general health and wellbeing. “The Department of Health has developed a proposal for funding a new dental clinic that WRHC hopes will receive funding in the state budget.”
Health Minister David Davis declined to answer a series of questions on the government’s funding intentions or the long-term viability of the dental clinics.
His spokeswoman said details of the 2013-14 state budget would be outlined in May.
“It should be noted that the previous Labor government sat on its hands and did nothing for 11 years,” she said.
“The state government remains concerned about the $200 million withdrawal of the Chronic Dental Disease Scheme by the Gillard government and the effect this will have on communities in western metropolitan region.”
