Uist dental clinics set to close, as new central hub gets the green light
A number of dental clinics in Uist are set to close after plans to create a central hub received the green light. Under new proposals, which have now been backed by the local health board and the council, local surgeries in North and South Uist will be replaced by a single facility based in Balivanich.
Now that the plans have been approved, surgeries in Lochmaddy in North Uist and Liniclate in Benbecula will close, and a clinic in Lochboisdale, which had already closed, will not reopen. The clinics will be replaced by a centralised practice, based in Balivanich, Benbecula.
Although proposals to create a hub have been supported by many, there has been criticism from independent councillors based in Barra and Uist. The councillors are angry about the loss of services closer to home, and they believe that up to 3,500 people will face lengthy journeys to see a dentist as a result of the shake-up. Patients who live in Eriskay, for example, will face a round trip of 70 miles to get to Balivanich.
Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands, Rhoda Grant, has backed calls from local residents and is now urging the Scottish Government to consider alternative plans.
A decision to go ahead with the central hub was reached following a period of drawn-out discussions between councillors and the health board. Initially, no majority vote was reached and the chief executives of NHS Western Isles were asked to liaise with the local authority to make a decision about the future of dental services. Having debated the issue, it was confirmed that a hub would be opened in Benbecula.
A spokesperson for the health board stated that an ‘implementation plan’ will now be drawn up to oversee the transition and ensure the efficacy of the new model.
Join this Discussion