Shocking data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare confirms that the oral health of Tasmanians continues to slide into decay, with the Rockliff Liberal Government doing little to manage their growing public dental wait list.
Health dashboard data shows that in the past two years, the oral health waiting list has been continually growing, with more than 15,553 adults waiting for appointments in November 2023 alone.
It is clear that the Liberal minority Government is not on target to reduce the oral health waiting list as they claim.
Poor oral health is one of the most common preventable hospitalisations in the state.
It leads to other types of disease and infection, may contribute to poor self-esteem and can be a significant barrier to seeking employment and socialisation.
Poor dental hygiene places further pressure on our health system and emergency departments, which are already operating under incredible pressure with staff shortages, ambulance ramping and bed block.
Minister Barnett must update the community on plans to progress a new public two-surgery clinic at Legana and a larger four-surgery clinic at Kings Meadows, which are scheduled to open in 2025, including his workforce plan to recruit more dentists, dental therapists and nurses to Tasmania.
It is critically important that Minister Barnett acts and makes oral health a priority particularly across regional Tasmania where access to a dentist is poor.
Tasmanians deserve timely health care but after 10 years, this tired, minority Liberal government is failing to make a difference and Tasmanians continue to suffer.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Wellbeing
