School Groups Worried Over the Future of Dental Clinics
School groups in Western Australia are worried about the future of school dental clinics, after concerns were raised over staffing levels.
Representatives from the WA Council of State School Organisations said that they had been warned that many clinics are struggling as a result of not being able to attract staff. This problem has arose as school clinics cannot offer the same incentives and salaries as private clinics, which makes it difficult to recruit and keep hold of good dental nurses.
Kylie Catto, from the organisation, said that it was important that the government took steps to ensure that school clinics are fully staffed, as they provide an essential service for schoolchildren. In many cases, parents find it difficult to get to a local dentist and school clinics enable children to see a dentist without their parents worrying about transport and they also prevent children from missing valuable classroom hours.
Ms Catto also added that the government couldn’t afford to lose school clinics, as waiting lists are already long and good oral health is imperative for children. Investing in children’s oral health now will help to cut the cost of dental care in the future.
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