31 August 2004

Dental Care In Tooth Fairy Land

New Zealand First has accused district health boards of embarking on another round of time consuming and expensive ‘consultations’ while children suffer from inadequate dental care due to lack of treatment at schools.

Health spokesperson Barbara Stewart said that improved facilities, trained therapists, and greater access to dental services would arrest the sad decline in the dental health and hygiene of New Zealand children.

“The Government’s solution for this third world state of affairs is to add to the health gravy train where dozens of health administrators fly around the country ‘consulting’ on all sorts of esoteric issues.

“When will they actually get on with providing health services? When will the Minister stop passing the buck and hiding behind health boards and start delivering real services to those who need them?

“The last thing we need is another round of consultations. When will the Minister come back from tooth fairyland and do something positive to ensure our children have adequate oral health care?” asked Mrs Stewart.

ENDS

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