Dental Health Care Fails Senior Citizens In Australia

Senior citizens of Cooma, located in the southern highlands of New South Wales, Australia are unable to find adequate dental care through their local health service.

A resent report found that the situation has been derotating for some time; with senior citizens unable to get an appointment with public dentist in their locality. One such story is of Ms. Colleen Corey of COOMA who has been forced to be on a soft food diet lasting 2 years. Only because her dentures were worn out and needed to be changed.

Mrs. Corey told reporters"My dentures have worn out which makes it hard to eat anything but the softest of foods. It's very difficult for me to chew up a lettuce leaf".

It was only when she read a report in her local paper that she learnt that there were over 270 people currently awaiting to be seen by the public healthcare dentists. She was then forced to contact the Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) hoping to get some relief for her problem.

Mrs. Corey was told by the GSAHS that she would be able to see a dentist the very next day. However to do this she would have to travel to Bega, situated several miles away. Due to her inability to be mobile she has to decline the treatment.

She was furious with the health care scenario. She further told reporters that "I haven't been offered vouchers to see a private dentist, I can't travel any distance and they can't get a dentist to come here, it's bloody terrible."

"They (GSAHS) need to bring in a full-time dentist as we need one badly."

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Like many Mrs. Corey will continue to suffer and forgo basic healthcare treatments till the Government can do more to improve the healthcare system in the country.

Source-Medindia
LIN/K