Whistleblower dentist criticises plan
Dr Clive Rogers has welcomed the government’s dental plan but says it is fundamentally flawed.
The whistleblower dentist who spoke out about oral neglect in residential aged care last December says the government’s new dental plan for nursing homes is flawed.
In a statement Dr Clive Rogers from the School of Dentistry at the University of Western Australia welcomed the Rudd Government’s action in this area but said its plan would not address the problem sufficiently.
Dr Rogers is concerned that there is no requirement that the standardised oral review for the aged care assessment team (ACAT) process be performed by a qualified dentist.
“The oral and dental care status and care plan needs of the elderly, when they move into institutionalised residential care, is one of the most complex in dental practice,” he said.
“These elderly [people] deserve to be assessed by a dentist, and not a non-dentally qualified health worker…”
Dr Rogers also believes that the plan to provide dental hygiene training to a representative form every aged care home in Australia by 2010 will produce superficial results.
He estimates carers would require 24 hours of formal training over a period of six weeks to gain the necessary level of knowledge and skills to provide dental care in the aged care setting.
He also says several educators will need to be identified in each state to deliver the training.
“There are no ‘quick fixes’ to solve these significant health concerns,” Dr Rogers said.
“A better solution is one that will lead to an effective and long-term resolution.”
Dr Rogers also questioned the idea that staff champions could educate other aged care workers in oral maintenance.
“It is unrealistic and unsatisfactory to expect inexperienced and superficially trained carers to be able to adequately train other staff back at their RACF to deliver adequate oral and dental hygiene to their residents,” he said.
However the Australian Dental Association has welcomed the plan, describing it is an important new direction in aged care policy.
“The measures proposed are a significant step in the right direction for the aged,” said the association’s president, Dr Neil Hewson.
“When implemented they will bring about a much improved dental health status for this group.
“To have staff better educated to attend to residents’ oral hygiene and screen for problems will assist in allowing early intervention by dentists.”
