BDA urges Scottish Government to tread carefully in shakeup of dental services

The Association has expressed concern that changes to the range of care available on the NHS could undermine the viability of practices across Scotland.

Dentists’ leaders have accused the Scottish Government of spin, launching the plan off the back of statistics which claim ‘record breaking’ numbers of registered patients.

Actual attendance at NHS dentists has reached a record low. The percentage of patients who saw a dentist within the previous two years has shown a steady decline from around 98 per cent between September 2006 and March 2008, to 84.1 per cent in September 2010 and 70.7 per cent in September 2017, the lowest reported rate.

David Cross, vice chair of the BDA’s Scottish Council said,“This programme represents the biggest change to NHS dentistry in the last 50 years, but it will be impossible to deliver without new investment. Yes, reform is needed, but Ministers must tread carefully and avoid the unintended consequences that could easily destabilise the service.