Page 1912 - Week 07 - Thursday, 20 August 1992
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MR BERRY: The Government, of course, is concerned about the long waiting lists for treatment in adult services.
Mr Humphries: What are you doing about it?
MR BERRY: Madam Speaker, I do not mind having a go at answering these questions, but I would like to be heard.
MADAM SPEAKER: Please, members, remember standing order 39.
MR BERRY: We are, of course, concerned about long waiting lists for treatment in adult services. If your advice is accurate, it would be interesting to know how you come by it.
Mr Humphries: Because it was a question on notice. That is why. You told us.
MR BERRY: When was that current?
Mrs Carnell: The week before last.
MR BERRY: That is fine. Well, they have changed since then. A significant factor in the long waiting lists in the ACT has been the service's inability to attract and retain professional staff. The situation has been compounded by the current recession, which has increased significantly the number of eligible clients. Staffing levels in the ACT have improved over recent months as a result of revised pay and careers structures for staff. In spite of reduced staffing levels, the service provided dental treatments to 20,253 patients in the financial year 1991-92.
Plans are under way to implement a centralised waiting list. This will enable clients in urgent need of dental treatment to be referred to the clinic with the first available capacity to treat them. That answers your question, "What are you doing about it?". Whilst the waiting list is a concern to government, similar problems are being experienced in other States, as reported in the national health strategy background paper No. 9 on improving dental health.
Mrs Carnell: Now they are all right, are they? Now the national health strategy is good value.
MR BERRY: Those sorts of problems have been reported in the national health strategy background paper. The management improvement plan for dental services, implemented in May 1992, will enable the service to develop strategies for better use of resources and more efficient work practices. Reduced waiting times are expected to be the flow-on effect.
Child Abuse
MS SZUTY: My question without notice is to the Attorney-General, Mr Connolly. As members will be aware, this week has been designated as National Child Protection Week. In conjunction with this event, Canberra police have held the Operation Paradox phone-in, which enables people to report instances of child abuse. In the ACT yesterday 60 calls were received. Can the Minister indicate what action will be initiated as a result of these calls?
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