Assistant Minister for Health Jai Rowell today joined Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres today in visiting the Nepean Centre for Oral Health in Penrith to meet with local clinicians and discuss looming expansions of the facility.
Mr Rowell and Mr Ayres spoke with local staff about capital works expansion which will see an additional 16 dental surgeries added to the centre, further enhancing the ability of clinicians to treat patients.The expansion, due to commence by May this year, is part of a joint funding initiative between the Federal Government and the NSW Centre for Oral Health Service.Mr Rowell said the planned expansion would provide a real boon, allowing patients from a broad catchment area to access timely dental health care.
“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring patients have ready access to the dental health care they need, and the planned expansion of the Nepean Centre for Oral Health is set to see even more patients benefit,” Mr Rowell said.
Mr Ayres commended the work of Nepean Blue Mountains LHD staff, saying it was great to see local services receive a welcome boost.
“We have a dedicated oral health workforce locally, who do a fantastic job in meeting the dental health needs of people in communities across the LHD,” Mr Ayres said.
Under an innovative partnership struck between the Nepean Blue Mountain Local Health District (NBMLHD) and the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) a unique resource sharing arrangement was also set to be trialled at the centre.
Mr Rowell said the expanded facilities at the Nepean Centre for Oral Health would also support an additional dental health practitioner to enhance the treatment options available to patients across both LHDs. “This pilot program between the two LHDs is one of the innovative ways in which our health practitioners are seizing the initiative and finding new ways to benefit patients. “I commend the local oral health practitioners who have played such an important role in developing this resource sharing arrangement.”
