This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New facilities for dental services
03/06/2004
Over 60,000 people across Scotland are set to benefit from better access to NHS dentistry, thanks to Executive funding for 20 new and revamped dental premises.
The £2.35 million will help to provide 14 brand new and 6 redeveloped state of the art dental facilities across Scotland. The projects, which are likely to result in the appointment of around 12 new salaried dentists, will include:
-The creation of a new four surgery dental facility in Banff, Aberdeenshire, providing around 17,000 new appointments for the area each year
- Five new surgeries in Wick, which will provide placements for dental graduates to encourage more dentists to choose careers in remote and rural areas.
- The extension of dental facilities in Pollok and Springburn in Glasgow, with the potential to take on 2000 children not currently included on a dental list
- A new four surgery dental access centre in Kirkcaldy, employing at least four new salaried dentists and providing training for dental therapists from Dundee Dental School.
Deputy Health Minister, Tom McCabe said:
"We know that there are problems accessing NHS dentistry in many areas of Scotland. These projects will make a real impact in improving access to NHS dentistry in the communities they serve.
"As well as providing both routine and specialist dental services, including improving access for people with disabilities and special needs. Many will provide vital facilities for trainee dentists. In remote and rural areas this may encourage more dentists to take up permanent posts. It may also provide a model to be used in other areas of Scotland.
"New salaried dentists will also be employed in some of the premises, allowing more patients to access NHS dental care.
"This brings the total amount invested in improving access to NHS dentistry since 2002 to over £15 million. This money has helped to provide incentives for dentists to practice in rural areas as well as encourage development of training facilities, as well as upgrade premises. However these projects are only part of the picture. They are not the whole solution.
"Our dental consultation, Modernising Dental Services, which ended last month, looked at ways in which we can improve and sustain access to NHS dentistry in the future.
"We have had a significant number of responses to the consultation and need to ensure that these are fully analysed. Later this year I will outline our response to the consultation, including the action we will take to help improve access to NHS dentistry and make a real difference to Scotland's oral health record."
The full list of successful bidders is below:
Argyll and Clyde will receive £60,000 to upgrade the existing dental surgery at Dykebar Hospital in order to provide a range of dental services to in, out and day patients with a wide range of special needs
Ayrshire and Arran will receive £140,000 to support a programme of small scale adaptations of dental premises in 12 clinics, health centres and community hospitals. This will provide the NHS Board area with a network of DDA compliant dental surgeries.
In Fife £250,000 will provide a new Dental Access Centre in Kirkcaldy. The four surgery centre will provide general dental services, emergency dental service clinics and training facilities for dental therapists from Dundee dental school.
Forth Valley will receive £60,000 to provide a new emergency dental care facility in Falkirk Royal Infirmary, linked with A&E and the existing GP out of hours service.
In Glasgow £400,000 will enable the redevelopment and extension of dental surgery facilities within the new multi-agency Pollok project, which brings a range of health services under one roof. In Springburn £150,000 will provide a new facility focusing on care for children at high risk of developing dental disease
In Banff, £500,000 will provide a new four surgery unit along with one hygienists' unit and one dedicated X-Ray unit within the hospital grounds.
In Wick, £340,000 will provide a new 5 surgery facility which will also provide placements for dental graduates.
In Lanarkshire £30,000 will upgrade Coathill Hospital dental surgery to improve access for people with special needs.
In Orkney £261,250 will help to upgrade Stromness Dental Centre
In Shetland £155,000 will expand the current dental service on Whalsay, relocating it within the redeveloped Whalsay Health Centre
Statistics on NHSScotland dental statistics were released today by the Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency. The statistics can be accessed at www.show.scot.nhs.uk
Responses to the Consultation, 'Modernising Dental Services' are currently undergoing independent analysis. A formal response will be issued in late summer.