Dental Waiting Lists Vanishing In Queensland
Recent figures have revealed that waiting times for dental treatment are falling in Queensland.
According to recent statistics, more than 2,000 people have been taken off the waiting list in Central Queensland since the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service started giving out vouchers for dental treatment; the vouchers enable public dental patients to see a private dentist.
Charles Ware, chairman of the CQHH board, said that the voucher scheme has been very successful so far, with 3,000 fewer patients waiting more than two years for treatment. Mr Ware explained that less than 9 per cent of patients on the waiting list were waiting for more than two years for treatment at the end of September. This is in comparison with 41.4 per cent in February.
Mr Ware said that the health board has been working hard to reduce waiting lists and enable patients to see a dentist much quicker. The vouchers, which have been made possible by funding from the National Partnership Agreement, allow patients to visit private dentists for treatment without having to pay higher fees. The board has also been hosting extra clinics where available.
In February this year, more than 3,500 had waited longer than 2 years for treatment; this figure had fallen to just 542 in September.
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