MOBILE dental units could be the answer to Dumfries and Galloways’ dental crisis, an MSP has said.
South Scotland’s Emma Harper has called in the Scottish Parliament for an “innovative approach” to tackling the acute issues locally.
And in her question to Public Health Minister Jenni Minto Ms Harper cited a meeting she held with a retired dentist, who suggested that a solution could be for NHS Dumfries and Galloway to invest in mobile units, to ensure people have access to an NHS dentist.
She noted that evidence from other Scottish health boards, such as NHS Tayside and Grampian, has shown that they can reduce pressure on dental services.
The MSP said: “Dumfries and Galloway continues to experience significant dental challenges and more than 17,000 people in the region have been deregistered by an NHS dentist in the last year. This is unacceptable.
“It is clear to me, based on discussions with former professionals, and looking at the evidence from other health boards, that we really need to see an innovative approach to ensure people in the region have access to good quality dental care. This includes for the many children who don’t have NHS dentist access either.
“One of the ways which could relieve some of the pressure currently experienced is through mobile dental units which could target areas of greatest need.
“I have raised this with the Public Health Minister and I will be writing to NHS Dumfries and Galloway leadership to ask them whether they will or have considered this suggestion which has shown success in NHS Tayside and Grampian.”
