The Carroll Labor Government has cut the specialist regional paediatric dental service by stealth, leaving Gippsland children facing uncertainty, longer waits and unnecessary travel for essential treatment.
The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath, called on Labor in state parliament to explain why regional specialist dental service had been cut and outline what support is being provided to impacted families.
“It is shocking that access to healthcare in Gippsland has once again been left behind by city centric Labor,” Ms Bath said.
“Local children have now been placed on the long waitlist at Melbourne’s Royal Dental Hospital, with no certainty about when their specialist treatment will occur.
“One Latrobe Valley family attended their Latrobe Valley based appointment on the Friday afternoon, only to receive on the Monday informing them the service had been cut.
“It’s been six weeks and the family hasn’t received an update about the urgent treatment for their daughter’s dental condition that causes her teeth to break and causes constant pain.
“Gippsland families are understandably frustrated and anxious, as their vulnerable children face distressing waits and treatment disruption.”
Ms Bath said Labor’s decision was another example of it stripping essential health services from regional Victoria which already experiences poorer health outcomes.
“Every time Labor removes a specialist service from the regions, it widens the health gap between country Victorians and those living in Melbourne.
“Instead of improving access to specialist treatment, Labor has made it harder for Gippsland families by forcing them to travel to Melbourne, take time off work and school, and shoulder additional fuel, accommodation and parking costs during a cost of living crisis.
“Children had treatment plans in place and were expecting care locally before Labor pulled the rug out from under them.
“The Minister for Health must immediately explain how many Gippsland children are impacted and when children who attended Latrobe Valley’s Specialist Dental Service will receive the treatment they were promised.”
