Dental crisis in Shetland has minister’s fullest attention – Swinney
DEREGISTERING thousands of NHS patients from a private dental practice in Lerwick has been branded by Scotland’s first minster as a “regressive step”.
John Swinney made the comment when responding to Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart during First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) on Thursday.
Wishart had asked him whether he would agree with her that an independent high street model of dentistry is failing patients “and in Shetland disproportionally so”.
Earlier this month, Lerwick Dental Practice notified around 2,000 of its NHS patients that they would be discharged from the surgery’s care as one of its dentists was leaving the practice. Emergency care would be provided until 8 February next year.
In a statement on social media, the practice, which is managed from Dyce Dental Practice in Aberdeen, said a further 4,000 NHS patients could be discharged by June next year unless NHS Shetland appointed a new director of dentistry.
The move has brought the isles’ stretched dental provision to breaking point. Even without this latest development, islanders were hardly able to access NHS dental treatment.
In response, the health board has given an assurance that emergency treatment would be available, while those de-registered will be added to the ever-growing NHS dental waiting list.
Speaking in parliament on Thursday, Swinney said: “I have been briefed by officials on this developing situation in Shetland, and I understand that my officials have met with the board to discuss this as a matter of urgency.
“The latest news is undoubtedly a regressive step, and the public health minister [Jenni Minto] will be overseeing through officials that appropriate mitigation are in place to ensure that the legitimate aspirations Beatrice Wishart has put to me today will be fulfilled for her constituents in the Shetland Islands.
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“This will be an issue that will have the fullest attention of the public health minister who is happy to engage with Ms Wishart on this question.”
Speaking to Shetland News afterwards, Wishart said: “The response doesn’t ease my constituent’s toothache but I look forward to further engagement with the public health minister to see if an early solution can be identified.”
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