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Kilbirnie
To Get New Dental Practice
NHS Ayrshire and Arran to build a new NHS £500k dental
practice in Kilbirnie to meet demand for NHS dental Services in the area.
Local MSP Allan Wilson has welcomed plans by NHS Ayrshire and Arran to build
a new NHS £500k dental practice in Kilbirnie to meet demand for NHS dental
services in the area.
“The news that Kilbirnie could be set to benefit from an unprecedented cash
injection from the Scottish Executive for NHS dentistry across Scotland and
reward local dentists committed to the NHS and local patients is very
welcome indeed” said Mr Wilson.
“The Scottish Executive have pledged an extra £295 million over the next
three years to help reward and retain NHS dentists, train more graduates and
encourage dentists to set up practices in problem areas like Kilbirnie” said
Mr Wilson.
“One of the main incentives is a pledge to reimburse local dentists the
current market rental value of their premises in the belief that they remain
committed to the NHS and local patients. Local dentists will also be
entitled to apply to have their IT and staff costs paid for by the Executive
in return for maintaining or increasing the NHS element of their practices”
said Mr Wilson.
“The money is also aimed at encouraging private dentists who have
de-registered local NHS patients to opt back in. I know many Kilbirnie
constituents have expressed concern about local dental services, albeit no
patients have been de- registered locally, despite suggestions to the
contrary” said Mr Wilson.
“Many have voted with their feet however and registered elsewhere rather
than subscribe to private practice plans. This additional funding is
designed to improve the current provision of NHS services locally and ensure
NHS dental services are available to all those who want to remain NHS
patients” said Mr Wilson.
“Criticism of local surgery provision has also been made and a revised
access and relocation scheme has been announced. This will help dentists set
up new or expand existing practices and help maintain NHS services in the
area by providing financial help to practices wishing to buy existing
premises or relocate to better quality premises” concluded Mr Wilson.
Allan Wilson MSP has produced a guide to local dental services which sets
out the current issues and highlights the measures the Scottish Executive
have put in place to address demand for NHS dental services in the area.
Copies can be obtained by calling 01294 605040
Note:
In March of this year the Executive published its 3 year action plan for
improving oral health and modernising NHS dental services. The three main
components of the action plan are:
1. Improving oral health;
2. Increasing the workforce, and improving its education and training; and
3. Modernising the NHS dental system
This amounts to an extra £45m this year, to £100m next year and to £150m in
2007/08. Cumulatively, this amounts to £295m over 3 years. Of this
additional funding, £237m will go to supporting primary care dental
services.
A new bursary scheme is currently being finalised, which will be tied to
commitment to work in the NHS for a period of 5 years after graduation, and
will be offered in 2006.
Existing training is being expanded to deliver over 200 new dental nurses in
06/07 and 250 in 2007/08 in addition the first ever Scottish trained dental
therapists are being produced. 2 courses are already in place in Dundee and
Glasgow with a new one just started this month in Edinburgh.
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