Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has announced that a state-wide blitz on dental waiting lists by the LNP government has cut the number of South Burnett people waiting too long for dental treatment to zero.
Mrs Frecklington praised this milestone in health service, saying the wait for dental treatment for local residents was significantly less than it was 12 months ago.
“In its own words, the former Labor Government lost control of Queensland Health. This Government is rebuilding front-line health services and it cannot be disputed; health is better for the change.
“I know how hard the staff of the Kingaroy Dental Clinic have worked to ensure that no-one in the South Burnett is currently waiting more than two years for general treatment,” Mrs Frecklington said.
Back in February last year, there were 7,210 people in the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service district who had two or more years on the general waiting list for dental treatment.
“This reduction is such a great achievement and in fact, this is the first time since the 1990s that no Queenslander was waiting more than two years,” she said.
“Simple changes across the state and improving engagement with the private sector has meant the dental wait lists in our region have improved significantly.
The Health Minister said he gave full credit to the oral health staff in at the Kingaroy Hospital Dental Clinic for their commitment to improving the health of the local community.
“Patients are now being provided with the care they need in a more appropriate time,’’ Mr Springborg said.
‘‘We will continue to look at ways to achieve great results and improve wait lists in the South Burnett.” Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says the number of Queenslanders waiting longer than the current benchmark time for a routine dental check-up and treatment has dropped by 100%.
Photo The Kingaroy Dental Hospital and waiting list times were on the agenda when Deb hosted a tour to the Kingaroy Hospital by Senator Fiona Nash (Federal Assistant Minister for Health) and Senator Matthew Canavan.
