By DAVID BRAITHWAITE
NATIONAL Party state MPs claim the state government has cut the specialist regional paediatric dental service by stealth, leaving Gippsland children facing uncertainty, longer waits and unnecessary travel for essential treatment.
However, the state government has told the Express that services at the Latrobe Valley Specialist Hub had been paused temporarily while a new specialist clinician was recruited. Services are expected to resume in the coming weeks.
Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull is seeking urgent clarification from the government following reports that the Gippsland Smile Squad specialist dental hub was no longer providing essential treatment for children across the region.
Mr Bull said concerned parents had contacted him claiming families were now being forced to travel to Melbourne for specialist dental care.
“If these reports are correct, it represents a major step backwards for regional families,” he said.
“The government promoted these specialist hubs on the basis that children in regional Victoria would no longer have to travel long distances to Melbourne for treatment. In fact, the department’s own website specifically states that these hubs mean regional children no longer need to make that journey.”
Mr Bull said he had asked the Health Minister whether the reports were accurate and, if so, what action was being taken to restore local specialist services.
“Families already face enough challenges accessing specialist healthcare without adding hundreds of kilometres of travel,” he said.
“Regional children deserve the same access to essential healthcare as those living in Melbourne.”
Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath called on the government to explain why regional specialist dental service had been cut and outline what support was 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.”
A government spokesperson confirmed this was a “temporary measure” while a new specialist was recruited.
“Alternative care arrangements are in place and the service will resume in coming weeks,” they told the Express.
“Only Labor is making dental care cheaper and more accessible for families across Victoria, with both regional hubs and Smile Squad vans travelling to schools across the state all year round.
“We won’t be taking lectures from the One Nation-Liberal Coalition, whose $40 billion cuts plan will mean slashing Smile Squad and making it harder for regional Victorians to get the care they need.”
Since 2019, Smile Squad has visited more than 1000 public schools, seen more than 175,000 students and delivered more than one million oral health packs. The program is rolling out to 54 low-fee non-government schools, offering free check-ups and follow-up care, including X-rays, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, fillings and root canals.
