British Dental Association Issues Warnings Over Rural Dental Shake Up Plans
The British Dental Association has warned that patients with the greatest need will be affected by plans to shake-up rural dental services in Scotland.
Plans to change services in remote areas have been revealed recently, with four health boards facing the prospect of practice closures. The measures have been announced as a means of reducing NHS spending; however, the British Dental Association believes that vulnerable patients, including those with special needs and underlying health conditions, will be worst affected.
The organisation is also worried that many patients will be faced with lengthy trips to see the dentist and it will be particularly difficult for those who do not drive to get to practices out of town.
Under the new guidelines, there will be fewer salaried dentists and this is a concern because many have additional training, which allows them to offer services, which are not available normal high street dental clinics. Salaried dentists were brought into some areas of Scotland to address a severe shortage of dentists in 2005, but now the plan is to reduce the numbers significantly to decrease wage costs. One service provided by some salaried dentists is sedation, which is particularly beneficial for nervous patients, patients with special needs and those who require complex treatment.
The Salaried Dentists Committee at BDA Scotland has raised concerns about patient care following the announcement to cut spending on salaried dentists. Plans to close practices in Newton Stewart, Dumfries, Lochmaben, Patna, Dalmellington and Arran have already been revealed and the current clinics in Sanquhar and Lochside will be managed by independent dentists. The Eyemouth Dental Surgery in the Borders will also close in June, with 1,400 dental patients forced to move to an independent practice.
In response to concerns raised by the BDA and the Salaried Dentists Committee, a spokeswoman for the Scottish government said that there “is no evidence in the claim that vulnerable groups of patients will be disadvantaged by any proposed changes to local dental services.”
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