A public dental clinic in Noosa is facing closure. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said in July that the proposed closure was part of a broader infrastructure review.
If the clinic closes, eligible Noosa residents will have to travel to Maroochydore, approximately 26 kilometers away, or Nambour, 33 kilometers away, for free public dental care.
Noosa MP Sandy Bolton noted that the Noosa clinic has been deemed “high-cost” compared to other clinics within the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) system.
SCHHS reports indicate that the regional health system has been facing budget deficits for years, and that the Noosa clinic’s small size, with only two dental chairs and a high ratio of clinical staff to support staff, results in higher-than-average unit operating costs.
Nichols said that even if the Noosa clinic closes, SCHHS will expand its seating capacity and add four new dental chairs in Nambour.
The Noosa clinic will remain open until the Nambour clinic expansion is up and running – however, the expansion is still in the early planning stages and is expected to take at least 12 to 24 months to complete and be operational.
Bolton called on SCHHS and the Ministry of Health to consider alternatives, including expanding the Noosa clinic, adopting a mixed staffing system, or more aggressively promoting services.
She emphasized that the Noosa clinic “has sufficient patient demand to provide services five days a week” and warned that closure would disproportionately affect low-income residents and elderly residents with mobility issues.
SCHHS responded that the Noosa Community Health Centre has limited capacity and cannot be expanded; the centre provides not only oral health services but also other community services such as child health.
SCHHS stated that the two dental chairs could be relocated to its other oral health centres to increase utilization.
Regarding demand and community economic conditions, SCHHS believes that the low patient attendance rate in Noosa is related to the area’s high socioeconomic status.
However, Bolton cited data from the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census, stating that Noosa’s median weekly household income is AUD 1,467, lower than Queensland’s AUD 1,675.
The Noosa City Council report also noted that a significant number of households in the county live below the poverty line and rely on Centrelink benefits. She also warned that given the high proportion of elderly people in Noosa County, “hidden needs” may not be fully accounted for.
Regarding eligibility, SCHHS explained that to access the service, patients must be Queensland residents and hold a Medicare card and a valid Centrelink concession card.
SCHHS also stated that eligibility criteria and service availability are promoted through the Queensland Health website, local health services, and referral channels, and that demographic trends (including aging) are considered part of service planning.
Regarding staffing, Bolton suggested that flexible arrangements, rotations, and clinical placements in collaboration with universities could be used to attract dental clinicians to Noosa.
SCHHS stated that recruiting and retaining oral health professionals is a challenge facing Queensland and the nation, and that they will continue to explore enhanced options, including flexible working models and collaborations with universities.
To minimize the impact on patients, SCHHS stated that they have contacted patients currently receiving treatment at Noosa and arranged alternative appointments at other Sunshine Coast health facilities. The SCHHS is committed to working closely with patients to ensure a smooth transition over the next six months.
In addition, Sunshine Coast Health will provide a scheduled patient transport service between Gympie, Nambour, and the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Eligible patients will also have access to a low-cost door-to-door community transport service from Noosa to other public dental facilities.
The State Government will open a new, purpose-built dental facility at 100 Sixth Avenue, Maroochydore, this month at a cost of AUD 6.3 million. The continuation of the Noosa clinic, which is facing closure, will depend on the final decision regarding the Nambour expansion schedule and future service planning.