Last updated at 09:25, Thursday, 22 July 2010

JIM Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has revealed that some health boards in Scotland are “scraping by” on about 49 dentists per 100,000 people.

Mr Hume says Dumfries and Galloway has only 48.5 dentists per 100,000 people, while the Borders is better at 55.9 dentists per 100,000 people.

He said: “For all the trumpeting the SNP do about record numbers of dentists in Scotland, these figures show some health boards in Scotland are scraping by.

“This picture is not countrywide. For example, one health authority has 75 dentists per 100,000 people and another has 126. This does not represent a fair distribution of NHS dental provision.

“Good dental health is vital for health. People who have difficulty accessing a dentist are being put at risk of developing problems with their teeth and gums which, in turn, can lead to other negative health implications.

“The government must do something about the lack of dentists in parts of the south of Scotland to ensure everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to access a dentist.”

First published at 21:43, Wednesday, 21 July 2010
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