Big boost for Ayrshire dental services

Aug 8 2008

AYRSHIRE health chiefs have been given an extra £4.75 million to improve dental services.

The cash will help fund a range of new initiatives aimed at improving access and standards of service across the county.

These include new surgeries for independent dentists working in the NHS, upgrading of existing health centres and teaching and training facilities for trainee dentists.

Scotland’s health minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed this week that Ayrshire will benefit from a share of a national £75 million dental package.

She said: “This substantial investment will allow health boards to put in place a range of new and improved health facilities to serve people in communities right across Ayrshire and Arran.

"Too many people in Scotland still don't have access to an NHS dentist and we are determined to reverse the years of neglect and bring NHS dentistry within reach of those who currently don't have access.”

Statistics released last week showed that at March 31 this year, the percentage of children registered with an NHS dentist had risen 6.6 per cent in a year to 73.8 per cent, while adult registrations had risen 6.9 per cent to 53.1 per cent.

Meanwhile, the number of high street dentists in Scotland increased by 102 to 2,576.

Ayrshire and Arran NHS board must now submit a plan to the Scottish Government on how they propose spending the extra money.