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Funding for community health care
19/01/2009
New dental facilities are the top priority in NHS Board plans for spending an £82 million cash injection from the Scottish Government.
Every health board in Scotland has plans to improve dental provision in their areas, with 13 new standalone dental centres nationwide, two others as part of multi-purpose health centres, as well as new surgeries and facilities upgrades.
Other projects on the cards from some boards include multi-function health centres and GP premises, as well as grants to community pharmacists.
Today's detailed proposals from NHS boards follow the unprecedented investment in capital projects announced in August last year.
Key projects include:
- NHS Ayrshire and Arran plans dental centres in Cumnock and Ayr and a resource centre in Ardrossan for GPs and dentists from its 6£.97 million pound allocation
- NHS Grampian plans a multi-agency health centre including a dental practice at Foresterhill and dental centres in Huntly and Fraserburgh from its £7.62 million pound allocation
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde plans a nine million pound replacement of Possilpark Health Centre, accommodating GPs, dentists and other community health partners from its £21.5 million pound allocation
- NHS Highland plans a dental centre in Oban and surgeries in Inverness, Thurso, Dingwall and Campbeltown from its £5.64 million pound allocation
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"In the tough climate we find ourselves in, capital projects are a crucial way for the Government to stimulate the economy by providing local employment opportunities.
"That is why the projects outlined today represent not just better health facilities for people the length and breadth of Scotland, but also a lifeline for some of the hardest-hit sectors of our economy like construction.
"Since May 2007, this Government has made NHS dentistry a top priority and these projects are further evidence of our determination to reverse the years of decline seen under previous administrations.
"Already, we have seen the number of dentists rise and the highest ever number of dental registrations for both adults and children. And the opening of Scotland's third dental school in Aberdeen in October last year will see more and more trained dentists entering the NHS.
"I expect these new proposals from NHS Boards to further enhance dental access right across Scotland, as we strive to give Scots a dental service to be proud of."
The £82 million pounds has been allocated as follows:
Health Board Total allocation for 2009-10 and 2010-11 (millions)
Ayrshire and Arran 6.97
Borders 1.35
Dumfries and Galloway 2.01
Fife 6.11
Forth Valley 3.25
Grampian 7.62
Greater Glasgow and Clyde 21.5
Highland 5.64
Lanarkshire 6.47
Lothian 11.42
Orkney 1.35
Shetland 1.35
Tayside 5.44
Western Isles 1.35
Total 81.83
At the end of June 2008, 75.6 per cent of children (794,000) and 55.4 per cent of adults (2.3 million) were registered with an NHS general dental practitioner (GDP), representing a 12 per cent and 19 per cent increase respectively compared to the same period in 2007.
Latest figures from ISD Scotland, published on December 16, 2008, showed that the number of General Dental Service (GDS) dentists in NHS Scotland at September 30, 2008 was 2,703, an increase of 157 (6.2 per cent) from 2007.
The 13 new dental centres nationwide are planned for: NHS Ayrshire and Arran: Cumnock, Ayr; NHS Fife: Levenmouth, Glenrothes; NHS Grampian: Fraserburgh, Huntly; NHS Highland: Oban, Campbeltown, Thurso, Inverness; NHS Orkney: Kirkwall; NHS Tayside: one planned (location to be confirmed); NHS Western Isles: Stornoway.
Two further primary care resource centres will also include dental facilities (NHS Grampian: Foresterhill Health Centre; NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde: Possilpark Health Centre).