This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Investment in NHS dentistry
22/03/2004
An investment of £4.5 million to support NHS dentistry was announced today.
Dentists will receive £3 million for improvements such as making practices more accessible to disabled people or to purchase new equipment.
In addition, the general dental practice allowance, designed to help dentists with administrative costs such as health and safety and training and supporting staff, is to be increased by 50 per cent this year to £4.5 million - an increase of £1.5 million.
Deputy Health Minister Tom McCabe said:
"Improving access to dental services and ensuring that patients benefit from up to date dental equipment is vital to ensure that we provide dental services fit for the 21st century.
"Last year, dentists in Scotland used this money to purchase x-ray units, dental chairs and to install ramps and handrails to improve access for disabled people.
"This year's funding will be used to build on these improvements and extend them to more practices in Scotland.
"Since 2002 we have invested almost #15 million in modernising dental services in Scotland. This money has provided dentists both with funding to improve their practices and with incentives to train new staff or set up in areas where there are gaps in services. However it is clear that there is more work to be done.
"Our consultation on Modernising Dental Services in Scotland will finish shortly. We have received a large number of responses, and have held local meetings throughout Scotland, where we have heard a range of views. I want to ensure that in responding to this consultation we consider all these views carefully and thoroughly, and develop proposals that will make a real difference in helping us provide sustainable dental services for the future."
The consultation, Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland, is currently underway and aims to identify ways forward for NHS dentistry in Scotland. The consultation ends on Friday April 2.
Practice Improvement funding will be distributed to dentists via NHS Boards. Funding will be as follows:
Argyll and Clyde - £260,400
Ayrshire and Arran - £210,300
Borders - £58,200
Dumfries and Galloway - £61,800
Fife - £187,200
Forth Valley - £168,300
Grampian - £257,700
Greater Glasgow - £613,500
Highland - £101,700
Lanarkshire - £321,600
Lothian - £486,300
Orkney - £9,000
Shetland - £12,000
Tayside - £239,400
Western Isles - £12,600