Friday, October 09, 2009

Blitz to lower Ballarat's waiting lists

Six dentists from the Ballarat Health Services' dental clinic tomorrow will screen 150 people in an effort to reduce the city’s public dental waiting lists.

They will determine whether the patients can be issued with vouchers to go to private dentists for treatment or, if the work is considerable, for appointments to be made at the clinic.

The work – 1000 extra treatments - is being funded under a State Budget allocation of $350,000 for this financial year and the same amount for next financial year.

Government officials are confident that this “blitz” will reduce the waiting lists.

Department of Health officers will brief ADAVB’s Ballarat members about the project, along with information about the fluoridation of the city’s drinking water, at a meeting next Thursday evening.