THURSDAY, 23 APRIL, 2015

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Improved access to NHS dentists across Tayside

The number of people gaining access to an NHS dentist has increased across Tayside, with 85% of children and 80% of adults in the area now registered.

The increased availability of NHS dental care is the result of continuous partnership working between the public, NHS Tayside staff, local practitioners and organisations across Scotland.

The rise in availability has also been achieved as more dentists and therapists who have been trained in Tayside are choosing to stay in the local area, increasing the availability of dentists to provide NHS treatment for routine patients who were previously seen by the Public Dental Service (PDS), operated as part of NHS Tayside.

Building on the success of this improvement, patients in Tayside are now being encouraged to register with a family dentist. This will give NHS Tayside’s PDS the opportunity to concentrate and expand on the priority areas for the population of Tayside, including treatment to people with special care needs. 

NHS Tayside General Manager for Access Alan Pattinson said, “Ten years ago people across Scotland had significant problems finding a dentist for NHS treatment but we are seeing a transformation leading to greater access to NHS services for the people of Tayside.

“Patient registration rates and capacity at NHS dentists across Tayside continue to increase allowing people access to routine check-ups and treatment. We will continue to offer the PDS at our clinics across Tayside for those patients who require specialised treatments or have special care needs.”

PDS centres in Broxden Dental Centre in Perth, Kings Cross Health and Community Care Centre in Dundee and Springfield Medical Centre in Arbroath will continue to provide training to undergraduates and newly qualified dentists to ensure an increasing supply of NHS dentists across Tayside. As part of this training programme, some routine adult patients will be offered care by students and post-graduate trainees. 

At the end of their course of treatment, most routine adult patients attending a PDS clinic will then be given information about local dentists who can take them on as NHS patients. 

Contact:

Debbie Huband

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740134