McArthur highlights impact of dentistry crisis in Orkney

Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur has highlighted the impact of the crisis in NHS dentistry on patients in Orkney and urged the Scottish Government to provide certainty over future funding models.

Speaking during a debate led by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Mr McArthur referred to specific examples of constituents struggling to register with a local NHS practice and accessing orthodontic services. It follows repeated warnings over recent months from Orkney's MSP about the implications of current funding models on dental provision and staff retention.

It was revealed last month that NHS Orkney saw a 64% drop in NHS dental claims from 20,149 in 2019 to 7,175 between January and November 2022. Meanwhile the British Dental Association have warned that NHS dental services in Scotland are facing a "wholesale exodus" and are "lightyears away from business as usual".

The Scottish Liberal Democrat motion called on the government to reform funding structures for dentistry to enable more NHS patients to be seen and rewrite the NHS Recovery Plan so that it includes a comprehensive plan for dentistry.

Commenting afterwards, Mr McArthur said:

"Crisis is an overused term, but it’s hard to know how else to describe the current situation in NHS dentistry across Scotland.

"While the pandemic has unquestionably taken its toll, the lack of any certainty about future funding has left dental practices unable to plan. This has led many dentists voting with their feet and withdrawing from NHS dentistry.

"The message I have heard repeatedly from dentists locally in Orkney reflects that. Indeed, but for the commitment of individual practitioners there is a real risk that the public dental services would have toppled over by now.

"I know, however, that there are serious challenges in the recruitment and retention of NHS dental staff. As a result, constituents are left facing painfully long waits or the choice of forking out for private care many can ill-afford. This risks widening health inequalities and laying the foundations for more serious public health issues in the longer term.

"I was able to point to examples of constituents unable even to register as NHS patients and others who are having to deal with the consequences of a complete lack of orthodontic capacity in Orkney. The impact of this on young people in particular is a real concern.

"The government needs to clarify longer term funding arrangements, ensure dentistry is fully incorporated in a revised NHS Recovery Plan and take steps to expand overall capacity, for example, by providing targeted support for recruitment in island areas and allowing therapists to play a greater role in the delivery of some services."