Hunt for 77 dentists to treat 125,000 in North-east
£6.5m help to reduce waiting list
Published:
HEALTH chiefs are aiming to get 77 more dentists working in the North-east in just four years.
The target is part of a drive to cut the waiting lists for NHS dental care, allowing around 125,000 to register with a dentist.
NHS Grampian is set to use a share of a multi-million pound government grant for the plan.
Just 37% of people in the area are registered with an NHS dentist, compared to a national average of 53%.
Now Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced more than £6.5 million is going to NHS Grampian.
She suggested it should be used to help tackle the dental crisis.
Ray Watkins, consultant in dental health for NHS Grampian, said the plan would also see more dental students coming to work in the North-east.
Mr Watkins said: “Our aim is for an extra 25,000 children to be registered, to meet the registration targets set in the Scottish Dental Action Plan, and 99,000 extra adult registrations.
“The next four years will see increasing numbers of dental students graduating in Scotland and recruitment to Grampian is predicted to rise sharply.
“There are several new NHS dental practices due to open in the coming year and we are confident that the number of NHS registrations will continue to rise.”
It is understood that the board will now ask Ms Sturgeon if it can use a share of the cash for its plan.
Although the cash could be spent on general medical services, the minister said dental care was a priority.
North-east Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: “We must never forget the dire state of dental services in the North-east and how it has been run down systematically.
“Hopefully this can be the return of good services.”
The new funds were revealed as part of a £75 million package to improve dental and medical services across Scotland between 2009 and 2011.
More than £21 million of the funding is going to Greater Glasgow, with NHS Lothian due to receive almost £12 million.
Readers' Comments
Simple idea - golden handcuffs for all dental/medical students, work for NHS after you graduate for 10 years or pay back cost of training plus interest; but no student loans or debt as bonus
alister troup
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