Dental practices unable to take on new adult patients, BBC investigation finds
SHETLAND has been revealed as one of six ‘dental deserts’ in Scotland.
None of the isles dental practices were able to take on any new adult NHS patients within a three month period, a BBC investigation has found.
Orkney, Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway, Inverclyde and Perth and Kinross were the other areas which were found to be unable to take on any more patients.
Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur said it was not good enough that people in the Northern Isles could not get an appointment.
“Toothcare should be universally accessible – it cannot just be for those who can afford to go private,” he said.
“A concerning number of dentists are no longer offering NHS services because of the low rates they receive for that work.
“There are also clearly issues specific to rural and island areas which are impacting on recruitment and retention.
“In the past there were incentive schemes to encourage dentists to take up posts in these areas but those incentives are now being spread so thin that any benefits are being undermined.”
Shetland’s MSP Beatrice Wishart said last month she had met public health minister Jenni Minto to discuss issues with NHS dentistry in the isles.
She said that though “many people have struggled to get NHS appointments since before Covid”, the pandemic had “made the situation worse”.
NHS Shetland said in July it remained fully committed to “providing a sustainable and equitable dental service”, despite continuing to work at almost 50 per cent less capacity than before the pandemic.
The public dental service is still only able to provide an emergency or non-routine service for the majority of patients.
Dentistry director Antony Visocchi said: “The lack of access to general dentistry for patients registered with NHS Shetland was a recognised problem prior to Covid.
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“This issue has developed due to many factors, not least the long-standing recruitment and retention issues across many rural and remote areas. Covid has highlighted this issue and has exacerbated the problem.
“Additionally, the entire dental profession is now faced with a workforce shortage. Currently, there is a recognised shortage of dentists providing NHS care in Scotland.”
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