MSP's concern for patchy dental provision across the South of Scotland

6.12.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Jul 2010

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has revealed that some health boards in Scotland are scraping by on around 49 dentists per 100,000 people.

Mr Hume has discovered that Dumfries and Galloway in the South of Scotland has only 48.5 dentists per 100,000 people; Lanarkshire is slightly better at 51.8 dentists per 100, 000 people; whilst the Borders is better still at 55.9 dentists per 100,000 people.

Jim Hume said:

“For all the trumpeting the SNP do about record numbers of dentists in Scotland, these figures show that some health boards in Scotland are scraping by on around 49 dentists per 100,000.

“This picture however is not countrywide. For example, one health authority has 75 dentists per 100,000 people and another has 126. This does not represent a fair distribution of NHS dental provision.

“Good dental health is vital for a healthy lifestyle. People who have difficulty accessing a dentist are being put at risk of developing problems with their teeth and gums which in turn can lead to other negative health implications.

“The Government must do something about the lack of dentists in parts of the South of Scotland to ensure that everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to access to a dentist.”