Lengthy trips for patients requiring emergency dental care in North Scotland
Patients living in the north of Scotland are facing lengthy trips if they require urgent dental treatment, it has been revealed.
Liberal Democrat member, Jamie Stone brought up the concerns after it was revealed that patients in the far north of the country were facing trips to Inverness for out of hours care. Mr Stone, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said there were concerns over out of hours care because 3 of the 8 NHS dental posts in Caithness would be available by month’s end; this is due to staff resignations and a reduction in dentists’ working hours.
Mr Stone said that local people also had concerns about the new dental practice at Dunbar Hospital in Thurso; members of the public have questioned the health board’s ability to recruit staff for the new surgery.
Currently, 4000 people are waiting to join an NHS register in the area and oral health is a subject of great public concern. Cathy Lush, NHS Highland clinical dental director, said it was especially tricky to recruit dentists to the Highland area and even more difficult to keep new dentists. Ms Lush claimed that the health board are actively trying to recruit dental staff; however, it is proving to be a difficult task. The health board is planning to lease the new Thurso dental facility to independent dental contractors and the process is due to start in the near future.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison admitted that there were problems in the Highland area and agreed to meet Mr Stone to discuss possible strategies and solutions. Ms Robison claimed that patient numbers in the Highlands had increased in recent years and confirmed that the health board was working to improve the situation.
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