A deal has been struck for the Adelaide dental school and the city’s public dental service to be part of the new medical precinct at the western end of North Terrace.
South Australian Health Minister Jack Snelling said the public would have improved access to dental services and students and staff would also see benefits.
“This agreement will see the construction of a new 90-chair dental clinic within the University of Adelaide’s new clinical building situated at the SA health and biomedical precinct,” he said.
He said the clinic was expected to open in the middle of 2017, neighbouring the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and SA Health and Medical Research Institute.
“The clinic will provide state-of-the-art dental facilities where students can complete their training alongside skilled dental experts, and the public can access high-quality dental care,” he said.
University of Adelaide vice-chancellor Warren Bebbington expressed confidence the deal would enhance the university’s position as a leader in dental education and research.
“I am pleased that the very long-standing partnership in dentistry between the University of Adelaide and SA Health will now be renewed securely for a further 30 years,” he said.
“The school will also modify its current clinical practice model to provide an enhanced year-round service to public patients.”
Clinical placements for dental students are to run for all but four weeks each year under the new deal.
“Increasing the number of weeks that students train within our service means that eligible patients will be able to access public dental treatment throughout the year,” Mr Snelling said.
There are to be two new dental scholarships aimed at getting students to train in regional SA and look to country areas for their future work.
The new Royal Adelaide Hospital is due to open in mid-2016 at the western end of North Terrace and the current RAH at the eastern end of the city will close.