Shock at lack of NHS dentistry across Angus

Stephen Kerr, Conservative MSP for Central Scotland. Image: Michael Gillen

Mr Kerr said: “I was horrified to learn from my friend and colleague, Councillor Ross Greig that he has been unable to register with an NHS dentist in Angus after his own dentist switched to being private.”

Mr Greig, who lives in Brechin, had been a longstanding patient at a practice in Arbroath which had gone completely private leaving NHS patients looking for a new dentist.

Mr Kerr related that he had received sedation for some medical procedures at the Springfield Medical Centre, also in Arbroath, and so when he needed some work on a filling, contacted the medical centre directly.

But he was told that he would need a referral, which was when the truth about the lack of NHS dentists in Angus became plain.

Mr Greig said: “The so-called list they gave me consisted of three practices: one in Forfar which would only take under 18s living in the DD8 postcode area and two others in Dundee, one of which had a six to eight-week waiting list.

Mr Kerr added that Mr Greig’s experience is not uncommon.

He added: “What has happened to Ross Greig has also happened to hundreds of other Angus residents; cut adrift when their dental practices went private with no practice anywhere in Angus that will take them on.

“This is typical of Scotland under the SNP. The people of Angus deserve much better.

"Most people do not want to pay for private dentistry and the NHS must step up to the mark.”