Waiting times a pain: Dentists

DENTISTS say Springvale residents are waiting almost three and a half years for a dental appointment under Victoria’s public health system.
But despite an increase in waiting times at Springvale-based Greater Dandenong Community Health centre, the State Government insists its ‘concerted effort’ to fix the problem had been paying off.
The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch this week urged the public to lobby their local MPs in the wake of the latest public dental waiting times.
Springvale ranks only behind Frankston in the state’s worst dental waiting times.
The association’s figures to March show that residents were waiting 41 months for an appointment– an increase of two months from December 2005.
But the State Government said it had slashed 150,000 people from waiting lists for dental care over the past 18 months.
Health Minister Bronwyn Pike blamed the Howard Government.
“Ever since the Howard Government abolished the Commonwealth Dental Health Program soon after entering office in 1996, the states have struggled to make up for the lack of funding,” Ms Pike said.
“But a concerted effort by the Bracks Government means that we are now making real inroads into dental waiting lists.”