‘Witch hunt’ fear for dentist

THE peak body representing Queensland’s dentists has suggested the Cairns dental clinic forced to shut down due to an infection scare may be the target of a “witch hunt”.

Problems with infection control practices were identified at private dental clinic Essential Dental for Life, following assessments by the Tropical Public Health Unit and the Office of the Health Ombudsman.

The clinic was shut down by health authorities last month, and its 550 patients have been urged to get tested for bloodborne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C.

Australian Dental Association Queensland president Dr Adrian Frick said the closure of the clinic as a result of the investigation showed the complaints system worked.

“Whether this dentist has done the wrong thing or not, I guess that will come out in due course,” he said.

“The risk to the public is really, really low.

“If there are problems with infection control, then the bigger risk is the dentist could catch something off the patients.”

He said the association was providing assistance to the dentist through the “stressful” time, adding there were concerns with how the clinic had been outed by Queensland Health to media on Tuesday.

“I think it’s definitely a sign the system is working, but at the same time, it’s always disappointing when these things get out into the public and then it becomes potentially a bit of a witch hunt,” he said.

Dr Don Mackie from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service said the service took matters of infection control and sterilisation practice very seriously.

“Although there is a low risk of infection, we considered it was important to inform potentially affected patients, who might not otherwise be able to be contacted, and advise them to contact 13 HEALTH and have a blood test for their own peace of mind,” he said.