All smiles after clinic upgrade

TASMANIA’S Health Minister says the State Government is committed to continuing to improve the state’s public oral health services, with measures including upgrades to the New Town dental clinic.

“We’re really pleased with this state-of-the-art facility in Hobart, which has contemporary facilities and equipment for staff and patients. The feedback from the staff and patients I spoke to was very positive,” Health Minister Michael Ferguson said.

“Dental health and oral hygiene is so important. We need everyone to know that good oral health will actually reduce sickness and disease later in life.”

The New Town Oral Health Services Tasmania facility now has 27 dental surgeries, prosthetic laboratory, an education centre and administrative support for the southern region.

Staffing is funded by the state and federal governments and James Cook University for student placements.

Stage one upgrade works were completed last year and stage two of the masterplan is now under way. Liz Schultz said she had no issue getting appointments for her children Franklin, 2, and Evelyn, 4, at the Archer St clinic, with an appointment available within a month of booking.

Tasmania’s adult oral health waiting list was 10,084 at September 2018, according to Health Department data.