THE Scottish Government is coming under fire for its 'failures' to fix dental services as thousands of people in Inverclyde are left with no access to NHS treatment.
Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan raised the issue with the public health minister Jenni Minto in Holyrood after the Tele revealed that 'mydentist' practice in Greenock is closing in August.
Dental services in Inverclyde have been in crisis since the end of the pandemic with the ten remaining practices having no space for new NHS patients.
During the debate both West Scotland Conservative MSP Jamie Greene, from Greenock, and Labour's MSP Paul O'Kane challenged ministers for allowing it to go on for two years.
Speaking in parliament, Mr Greene said: "The point is that in places such as Inverclyde people simply cannot afford to go private. When it comes to dentistry, why have people in my region been given the unacceptable choice of going private or not going at all.
"I raised it with ministers two years ago and I was promised action would be taken - two years later and you still can't access a dentist.
"Even if you are registered doesn't mean you can get an appointment."
Labour's Mr O'Kane also hit out as the crisis in Inverclyde escalates.
He said: "People in Inverclyde don't want warm words from the government, nor do they want visits from the minister or comparisions with England, they want dental services to be there, to serve the people that needs them.
"The reality is this is not the first practice in Inverclyde to close. With other NHS practices closed to NHS patients, or dealing with ever expanding waiting lists, the area is a dental desert.
"Why has it taken so long for action?"
The Tele first reported that all the practices were closed to NHS patients in August 2022.
In response to the concerns raised, public health minister Jenny Minto repeated the response from Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board that they had put a pilot in place to deliver emergency treatment at Greenock Health Centre.
She also added that Inverclyde is also a priority area for funding to recruit dentists and support extensions to open up new practices.
Ms Minto set out reforms and said that she was looking at getting access to overseas dentists.
It was also revealed that she had visited a practice in Gourock where she had been told about the recruitment problems.
Ms Minto said: "The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining access to NHS dentistry in Scotland. I acknowledge that access remains challenging in Greenock and Inverclyde.
"My officials are building closer working relationship with boards, including Greater Glasgow and Clyde to ensure that there are mitigating actions to support access on localised issues."
Afterwards Stuart McMillan MSP, who had raised concerns previously, said: "Constituents regularly contact my office about NHS dentistry, mainly because they’ve been unable to register as an NHS patient with a local dental practice.
“My topical question [in parliament] was about seeking answers from the minister on the Scottish Government’s efforts to support the dentistry sector, principally to enable them to take on more NHS patients.
"We must build on this and put in place incentives to encourage more people into the profession, as boosting the workforce is key to unlocking more NHS patient appointments.
"It’s also vital that the Scottish Government works closely with the sector to develop an NHS dentistry model that puts patients at the heart.
“I appreciate that these commitments bring no comfort to my constituents who are without access to an NHS dentist. It doesn’t change the situation they are currently facing.
“That is why I will continue to raise concerns about access to NHS dentistry in Inverclyde with the Scottish Government, as I know it’s a topical issue for many of my constituents.”
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