Dundee dental van could become a regular fixture
A dental van, which is providing treatment for patients who struggle to see a regular dentist in the Lochee area of Dundee, could become a regular fixture.
The mobile unit, which travels around the local area, is aimed at patients who find it difficult to see a dentist, for example, the homeless and patients who are not currently registered with an NHS practice. The van visits the Lochee hub from time to time, but staff at the community facility are hoping that it will become a more regular fixture. There are hopes that the unit will visit at least once a month to enable better access to NHS dental services.
Morag Curnow, clinical dental director at NHS Tayside, said that there are plans for the mobile unit to visit Lochee on a monthly basis, and added that the van also calls in to the Steeple and Cairn Centre on a weekly basis and the Signpost Centre in Whitfield once a month. The aim of the service is to target vulnerable people and patients who have complex needs to enable them to access the care they need.
Most people in Dundee are registered with an NHS or a private dental clinic, but the van helps to plug gaps and prevent patients from slipping through the net. Anyone who requires specialist dental care that is not available either from the mobile service or a high street clinic will be referred to Dundee Dental Hospital.
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