DHSV recognised for work to see Victorians smile brighter
Victorian Premier Denis Napthine has commended Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) for its work to better the oral health of vulnerable Victorians, its innovative ideas to increase access to services and its forethought to prevent oral disease from occurring.
DHSV was one of four health services in the running for Victoria’s top health honour - the Premier’s Metropolitan Health Service of the Year award and received a Highly Commended for the award category.
Each year the Victorian Department of Health’s prestigious Public Health Awards recognise innovation and excellence in improving hospital capacity, developing community-based health services, promoting healthy living, providing more extensive and high quality healthcare information, improving emergency services and creating more effective healthcare outcomes.
DHSV CEO, Dr Deborah Cole says this award and recognition helps show the community the great work being done at the grass roots level to combat dental diseases in the Victorian community. “DHSV and the 53 health services that make up the public oral health network in Victoria are doing so much to help people across the state to take care of their teeth and gums,” she said.
“Oral health is essential for general health and wellbeing. We want to stop the development of the largely preventable oral diseases that plague Victorians, before they get to problematic status and we want to help those in need of treatment to access the quality services they need,” Dr Cole said.
The Premier presented four Awards for outstanding health service performance: Primary health service of the year, Rural health service of the year, Regional health service of the year and Metropolitan health service of the year – for which DHSV was a finalist. Eastern Health and Western Health took out the top honour in the metropolitan category.
“Congratulations must go to the winners – Eastern Health and Western Health for their great work and their success with the awards,” Dr Cole said. The Public Healthcare Awards are presented annually and DHSV already has the 2015 awards in sight.
“We’ve got plenty of fresh ideas and thoughts on how to tackle dental disease in the community and passionate people to deliver on these projects. That’s helping us to strengthen and grow the public dental sector and improve oral health of the people of Victoria and we will keep showing off our work to the community through these great awards.”