British Dental Association urges new First Minister to take urgent action on dentistry in Scotland
The British Dental Association (BDA) has urged the new First Minister to take urgent action on dentistry in Scotland.
Nicola Sturgeon is preparing to step down as leader of the Scottish National Party and a new First Minister will take her place in the coming weeks.
David McColl, chair of the BDA’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said that the new First Minister must make dentistry an urgent priority. The number of dental practices offering NHS services is falling, patients are struggling to access NHS dental care and dental workers are gravitating towards private clinics. Mr McColl claims that there is a worrying NHS exodus that is going unnoticed by ministers and blames a system that is no longer functional or viable.
Mr McColl explained that the first 100 days in office would be crucial for the new leader with the situation in Scotland getting worse day by day. The BDA is calling for a substantial funding boost for NHS dentistry, more support for NHS dentists and reforms to the contract, which will benefit patients and staff.
The health secretary, Humza Yousaf, who is standing in the leadership contest, recently claimed that NHS staffing levels were at an all-time high but data from NHS Education for Scotland disputes this. According to the figures, there has been an 8% decrease in the number of NHS high street dentists since 2020.
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