By Lucy Ashton
Dentists must be listened to and empowered by those in government to prevent the collapse of NHS dentistry in Scotland, Anas Sarwar will warn today.
Speaking at the Conference of Scottish Local Dental Committees in Stirling, Mr Sarwar will say that 17 years of SNP failure to support Scotland’s dentists have led to a ‘two-tier dentistry system’ in Scotland – with those in need losing out.
Reflecting on his own experiences working as an NHS dentist, Mr Sarwar will reflect on his first-hand knowledge of the importance of NHS dentistry.Statistics have shown that more than a third of patients registered with an NHS dentist went without a check-up or treatment for three years – with large numbers unseen in five years.
At the same time, the number of NHS24 calls about oral and dental health soared from 25,509 a year to a shocking 67,189 – nearly tripling.
Health inequalities remain stark with only 68.1 per cent of P7 children in the most deprived areas found to be decay free – compared to 89.7 per cent in the least deprived.
The Scottish Labour leader will today say that the SNP’s broken dentistry funding model – which leaves dentists out of pocket regarding many key purchases – is threatening the existence of NHS dental care and forcing dentists into the private sector.
Mr Sarwar will say: “Having served in our NHS as a dentist, I know first-hand the importance, both medically and socially, of access to first-class dental care – but under the SNP, NHS dental care is under threat.
“Despite all this SNP Government’s promises, we are now looking down the barrel at two-tier dentistry system in our country where those with the ability to pay opt to go private, and those without the means, going without.
“This is a ticking timebomb under the health of millions of Scots and will reinforce Scotland’s already unacceptable levels of dental and wider health inequality.
“No one in this room wants it to be this way.
“Faced with this broken funding model, more and more dentists are feeling forced to take on more and more private dental care to survive.
“I am here to listen and to say to you that with Scottish Labour you have a party that is on your side and that will put your voices, your concerns and your expertise at the heart of government.”