14/12/2006

A.C.E. Congratulates Rudd for Adopting Democrats Dental Policy

 NSW Democrat MLC, Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans today congratulated Labor Leader Kevin Rudd for adopting part of the Democrats’ policy on Dental Health.

 “The state of Australia’s public dental health is appalling, as was shown by the NSW Upper House Inquiry into Public Dental Health that I established.” 

 “What is needed is to put dental care into Medicare, so that the mouth is not the only part of the body not covered by Medicare.  If you get a boil on the b_m you are covered by Medicare, but if you get a boil on the gum you are not,” said Dr Chesterfield-Evans.

 
“However, Mr Rudd should go further.  It is time that there was universal dental care for basic necessities, particularly including preventative care, and it would be wise to include dental therapists and dental hygienists also, as they are able to offer cost-effective dental care,” Dr Chesterfield-Evans concluded.

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