Dental crisis worsens as Dumfries practice closes leaving 4000 patients without care
NHS Dumfries and Galloway say they are offering emergency dental care for anyone without a dentist.
There are fears of a dental crisis in Dumfries and Galloway as thousands of patients are being left without NHS care.
DADDS in Dumfries is closing – and there are no other facilities in the region taking on new patients.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway have also confirmed that there are no dentists anywhere in the region taking on new NHS registrations.
People are now facing the stark choice of travelling miles to other areas or go private, something many are unable to afford due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Now, tens of thousands of people in the region are stuck without a dentist.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth says he is outraged that the Scottish Government “have failed to wake up to the growing dental crisis.”
“Both Governments have been warned over and over that this would happen, but they have completely ignored those warnings.
“The Scottish Government needs to accept that the current model of NHS dentistry is broken, and the NHS should be employing more dentists directly rather than leaving it all in the hands of private dental practices who can pick whether or not they provide NHS care.
“This is terrible news but sadly, no-one in our region will be remotely surprised that once again, thousands of people are losing their access to NHS dentistry.
“NHS dentistry in Dumfries and Galloway has been, and remains, in crisis.”
In an interview with Greatest Hits Radio, Director of British Dental Association Scotland Charlotte Waite, says closing down practices and deregistering patients can cause problems:
“It may be difficult to travel to access and NHS dentistry somewhere else, and there are cost implications of having to travel outside an area. In the cost-of-living crisis, that means that certain patients may find themselves in a difficult position where they’re no longer able to access a dentistry at all.”
Director of Dentistry Alison Milne says they have been made aware of the changes at the dental practice and reassures that patients will be contacted individually.
“The practice has now closed, meaning these patients no longer have access to NHS care at these premises. As a consequence, these patients will now need to seek alternative provision.”
She has confirmed that anyone unregistered and seeking emergency dental care can contact the Dental Helpline.