Edinburgh dentist warns that Scotland could undo a generation of good work unless urgent measures are introduced to save practices
A dentist from Edinburgh has issued a stark warning, as dental surgeries across the UK remain closed due to the Coronavirus.
Leanne Branton, from Southside Dental Care, said that there was a real risk of undoing a generation’s worth of good work in Scotland unless urgent measures are introduced to provide support for practices.
Ms Branton’s practice provides both NHS and private services for all ages, and the 39-year-old is worried that surgeries won’t survive the prolonged lockdown closures. Most practices offer both NHS and private treatment and many are not eligible to claim the financial assistance on offer from the government. The chancellor announced a whole raft of funding measures in march, but according to Ms Branton, most dental clinics do not quality for help.
Ms Branton is one of a number of dentists who signed a letter to the Scottish finance secretary, Kate Forbes, recently. The aim was to encourage the Scottish Government to take urgent action to support dental practices. The letter represents 3,000 dentists across Scotland and comes after a survey conducted by the British Dental Association suggested that almost 70% of practice owners were worried about making it through the lockdown.
Talking about the unprecedented situation, Ms Branton said that it was probable that dental care would regress. Practices need help now to prevent patients facing delays when clinics open again and to ensure that services can return to normal as quickly as possible when surgeries reopen. If no help is provided, there is a chance that clinics will close, and this will have a negative impact on patients for years to come.
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