Wishart raises de-registered NHS dentistry patients with FM
Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland MSP, during a session of First Minister’s Questions (Thursday 28th November) quizzed the First Minister on the current NHS dental system that is ‘failing’ constituents in Shetland.
Ms Wishart asked the First Minister:
“2,000 patients of the Lerwick Dental Practice have been notified by text that they will be de-registered and left without care by early next year. Another 4,000 patients are at risk of de-registration
“Just this morning I heard from a constituent one of those 2,000 who says, and I quote:
“‘I am in tremendous pain with toothache and on phoning the dentist for 'emergency treatment' (as this is all I can access now) I … eventually got through, only to be told they'd see what they could do and phone me back.’
“She is still waiting for the call back.
“It is clear the independent high-street model of dentistry is failing NHS patients and in Shetland disproportionately so as there is no alternative.
“Talk of long-term strategies does little to ease the agony for patients with toothache, so does the Scottish Government agree that everyone in Scotland should be able to access routine NHS dental care, and if so will the First Minister ensure that the model of delivery is re-examined as the current system is quite clearly failing my constituents in Shetland?”
The First Minister said that the Public Health Minister will lead in tackling this pressing issue in the isles.
After FMQs Ms Wishart said:
“I welcome the Public Health Minister’s attention on this matter and I have been engaging with her on the long term issues involved in NHS dentistry in the islands.
“Meantime, however, that is not solving patients’ toothache and we need a plan to mitigate this aspect. I hope we can find a constructive way through this.
“The current so called ‘high street model’ isn’t working in Shetland where we have no options to access different NHS dentist providers. I would like to see a model that can ensure routine care is accessible to all NHS patients.”
You can see the exchange here.