A DENTAL surgery in Dumfries and Galloway has been supported to take on an additional 2000 NHS patients over recent months.
Helping to address a shortage of NHS dental service provision within the region, Moffat Dental Practice received grant funding for the move through the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI).
Director of Dentistry for NHS Dumfries and Galloway Alison Milne said: “We’re still facing some real challenges in our region around access to NHS dental services, but these developments at Moffat Dental Practice represent a very positive step in the right direction.
“This move has resulted through a combination of grant funding, and also through local training which has resulted in another NHS dentist taking up a position within the practice.
“I’m delighted that the practice has now filled the 2000 spaces that were created with this NHS dentist – with 500 of those patients having already been seen.
“It would be great if we were able to see this sort of success being replicated elsewhere, helping to address the very large numbers of people who currently don’t have routine access to an NHS dentist.
“And this move comes after some more positive developments in recent months which saw 12 places for dentists in training plus tutors and support secured in the region – making NHS Dumfries and Galloway the biggest outreach dental training facility in Scotland.”
Alison added: “We know there are likely more challenges ahead, but we continue to encourage and support dentists to provide NHS general dental services and are working closely with Scottish Government colleagues on these matters.”
The Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) aims to support NHS dental provision in designated geographic areas where access to General Dental Services is low and there is evidence of unmet patient demand and/or high oral health needs.
Dumfries and Galloway has been designated as an SDAI area by the Scottish Government, after receiving a submission from the Health Board.
Dumfries and Galloway was officially designated as an SDAI area with poor dental access by the Scottish Government, after it was presented with supporting evidence by the local Health Board.
As a result, NHS Dumfries and Galloway has been in a position to provide grant funding for applicants who are able to provide expanded NHS dental treatment.
All of the 2000 spaces which were created at Moffat Dental Practice have been filled, but it is hoped that more opportunities might be created in other locations as a result of the Scottish Dental Access Initiative.
