Patients in Dumfries left with no option but to leave the area to see a dentist
Patients in Dumfries and Galloway have been left with no option but to leave the area to see a dentist.
The local health board has confirmed that there is a shortage of NHS dental places, leaving many residents unable to make an appointment. The news comes after several practices in the region deregistered NHS patients. The Blue Door practice in Dumfries recently confirmed that it would remove 5,000 NHS patients from its list in March 2023 and in November, a clinic in Thornhill switched to private dental services.
Director of public health at the local health board, Valerie White, said that the issue was one of “significant concern” and suggested that patients would need to look outside of the area to find an NHS dental practice. Alternatively, there are private places available in Dumfries and Galloway.
Paul Davies is one of many patients affected by recent closures and NHS provider changes. He has been trying to see a dentist since the summer but has had two appointments cancelled and is now struggling to make another. There are no appointments available in Dumfries and he is now looking for practices outside of the region. His story is one that will resonate with residents across the area, with more and more people experiencing difficulties.
Ms White stressed that the health board is committed to supporting NHS dentists, but admitted that there are major challenges, most notably, the lack of dentists willing to relocate to the region.
A spokesperson for the Scottish government said that measures have been put in place to encourage retention and boost recruitment.
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