PUBLIC DENTAL CAPACITY SET TO DOUBLE ON FRASER COAST

The Bligh Government is investing $17.5 million over three years to double public dental health service capacity in Hervey Bay and Bundaberg, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said the number of dental chairs at the Hervey Bay Dental Clinic in Torquay Rd will be increased from the current eight to 16 chairs.

“We recognise that very high public demand for dental services coupled with the national shortage of dentists means some people have to wait to be seen,” he said

“Doubling the number of chairs will help reduce waiting times and increase the Hervey Bay clinic’s capacity to see more patients.

“Recruitment of new public dentists, as part of the overall improvement of oral health facilities, will also be a priority for the Fraser Coast Health Service District.”

Mr Robertson said service improvements would take three years to fully complete because of necessary service relocations, construction work and clinic fit-outs.

“Its not as simple as just adding eight new dental chairs to the existing clinic located in The Village health hub.

“First, we need to find a new home for Fraser Coast’s Community Health Services which currently share accommodation at The Village with the dental clinic and Integrated Mental Health Services.

“Once we have relocated Community Health Services, we will be able to begin construction work to expand the existing dental clinic to accommodate the eight extra chairs, “ he said.

The first $1 million of the $17.5 million investment will be used to relocate Community Health Services and complete architectural designs for the Hervey Bay clinic expansion ($7 million) plus a brand new clinic in Bundaberg ($9.5 million) where chair capacity will be increased from the current six to 13 chairs.

All new chairs are scheduled to be operational by 2010.

Mr Robertson was in Maryborough and Hervey Bay on the weekend with the Premier, her Cabinet and the State's senior public servants for the Bligh Government's seventh Community Cabinet.

"This is part of the Government's commitment to listening to Queenslanders concerns on their own home turf,” he said.

“It is part of taking on board their views as the Premier and Government plan for the future.”

MEDIA: Alison Brown 3234 1185 / 0458 449267