Dental waiting times updated (as at March 2006)
The Department of Human Services has updated dental waiting times information on its website, so that waiting times as at March 2006 are now visible.
The Victorian Oral Health Alliance (VOHA) has taken this data, and presented it in a more accessible form at the VOHA website. The data is also linked to email facilities allowing those concerned about unreasonably long waiting times to send a message to their MP or the Minister for Health urging them to take action to improve the situation.
VOHA has also created lists of the worst 13 clinics in each of rural Victoria and Melbourne, described as the "Unlucky 13" lists. The ADAVB, which is a member of VOHA, issued media releases about these rural and metropolitan clinics, and extensive coverage of the story has followed, particularly in regional media.
There is both good and bad news for public dental patients in the new data, with shorter waits in some areas, and longer waits in others.
Amongst the Unlucky 13 rural clinics originally highlighted on the VOHA website, three have improved, eight have deteriorated and two remain unchanged. The following list highlights the changes for these targeted clinics as at March 2006, with rises or falls since December 2005.
Amongst the Unlucky 13 rural clinics originally highlighted on the VOHA website, three have improved, eight have deteriorated and two remain unchanged. The following list highlights the changes for these targeted clinics as at March 2006, with rises or falls since December 2005.
Clinic Location...............Wait (months)
Portland .......................68 .. up 2
Moe ...............................65
Sale ...............................65 .. up 3
Churchill .....................65
Warrnambool ..............56 .. up 1
Horsham ......................50 .. up 1
Ballarat .........................47 .. down 6
Bairnsdale ....................47 .. down 3
Wangaratta ...................46 .. up 3
Orbost ..........................44 .. up 3
Corio ............................42 .. up 2
Echuca .........................40 .. up 1
Maryborough ..............38 .. down 04
Hamilton drops out of the Unlucky 13 since December 2005, as it was 37 months and is now 36 months. Daylesford is threatening to join the list with the waiting time there increasing from 35 to 37 months, as is Colac, where the waiting time has increased from 32 to 35 months.
If you are concerned about these delays in access to dental care, visit the VOHA website to send a message to your local MP or the Minister for Health.
Portland .......................68 .. up 2
Moe ...............................65
Sale ...............................65 .. up 3
Churchill .....................65
Warrnambool ..............56 .. up 1
Horsham ......................50 .. up 1
Ballarat .........................47 .. down 6
Bairnsdale ....................47 .. down 3
Wangaratta ...................46 .. up 3
Orbost ..........................44 .. up 3
Corio ............................42 .. up 2
Echuca .........................40 .. up 1
Maryborough ..............38 .. down 04
Hamilton drops out of the Unlucky 13 since December 2005, as it was 37 months and is now 36 months. Daylesford is threatening to join the list with the waiting time there increasing from 35 to 37 months, as is Colac, where the waiting time has increased from 32 to 35 months.
If you are concerned about these delays in access to dental care, visit the VOHA website to send a message to your local MP or the Minister for Health.
posted by Eric Mourant at 5:30 pm
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