Councillors join fight to save dental clinic in Dumfries
Local councillors have joined the fight to save a dental clinic in Dumfries. Recently, an NHS committee suggested that Lochside Dental Care could close; however, local councillors have stepped in to try and save the clinic, which serves a deprived community.
Labour campaigners claim that people in the area have been unable to register with an NHS dentist for several years and now, residents are facing a fight to try and keep their local dental centre open. Councillor Ronnie Nicholson described the plans as “flawed” and criticised the health board for trying to close facilities in an area that is among the most deprived in Dumfries. Cllr Nicholson believes that there have been deliberate moves to make it look like the service is underused, but claims that patients have actually been prevented from using the clinic.
In response to the proposals, Cllr Nicholson is now urging local people to write to the health board to raise their concerns and share their opinions. Closing Lochside Dental care would leave more than 1,300 patients facing the prospect of having to relocate to a different practice in the region.
Cllr Nicholson’s stance was backed by Labour MSP, Colin Smyth, who said that closing clinics may save money, but it would also leave poorer areas even more deprived when it comes to accessing basic healthcare services. He suggested that these are the areas health boards should actually be targeting, rather than making it even more difficult for residents to get the care they need.
