Deputy Opposition Leader
Deb Frecklington

October 24, 2017

More than 540 patients have been waiting between one and two years to receive general care at the Kingaroy Dental Clinic, according to the latest Queensland Health figures … a massive jump from just 11 patients a year ago.

And the figures show only 44 patients in this category have begun treatment.

As well, there are 1322 patients who have been awaiting general care for less than 12 months. None of these have begun treatment.

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington quizzed Health Minister Cameron Dick in Parliament in May about the wait times at the Kingaroy Dental Clinic; in reply he referred her to the published statistics on the Queensland Health website.

This prompted a letter from Mrs Frecklington:

“On comparing the May and October figures, it is obvious the wait times at the Kingaroy Dental Clinic are on the rise. I note my particular concern for Category 2 and Category 3 patients.

“In regards to Category 2, only 13 per cent of patients are being seen within the recommended waiting time. The number of patients waiting has increased by 284 patients, to 430 patients. Of these, just eight patients started treatment. In Category 3, only 27 per cent of patients are starting treatment within the recommended waiting time.

“This is unacceptable.

“The number of complaints from my constituents is increasing and I request urgent consideration of strategies to start reducing the number of patients waiting for treatment at the Kingaroy Dental Clinic.”

Mrs Frecklington said dental health waiting lists had skyrocketed under the Palaszczuk Government.

“With so many people complaining to me, I lodged a Question on Notice in Parliament in May this year about wait times at the Dental Clinic,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“Since then, I have also written directly to the Minister asking for the urgent consideration of strategies to start reducing these unacceptable wait times.

“Of huge concern are the Category 2 patients (Priority Care) who are waiting longer than 90 days to receive treatment. In fact, only 13 per cent of people in this Category are being treated within the recommended waiting time.

“There are people whose health is being severely affected by not being able to see a dentist.

“When you have dental problems, you cannot eat property, and this then causes other health problems.

“For example, some of the people who have contacted me have diabetes and they find it very hard to manage their condition when they can’t chew the foods they need to eat.

“Under the former LNP Government, we undertook a blitz on dental wait lists and reduced by thousands the number of people across the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service District. The reduction was a great achievement and in fact, it was the first time since the 1990s that no one was waiting more than two years for treatment.

“But figures are rising rapidly and I am worried for these patients who have a very long and frustrating wait to improve their dental health.”

The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service has blamed the resignation of two dentists earlier this year, who have since been replaced, for the lag in treatment.

The service expects the situation to improve even more when the new Farrhome dental training and treatment clinic opens. This building is due to be completed by the end of the year.


 

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