Number of dentists doing NHS work falls in 11 health boards

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today criticised the government’s “unacceptable failure” to support the dental sector as he revealed that in the first eight months of the year, the number of dentists providing NHS services fell by 8% compared to pre-pandemic numbers.

In the third in a series of stories highlighting the challenges facing NHS dentistry in Scotland, a freedom of information request submitted by Scottish Liberal Democrats to Public Health Scotland has now revealed that, between 2019/20 and the first eight months of 2022/23:  

• The number of dentists performing NHS work fell from 3,407 to 3,155.
• 11 health boards saw a reduction in the number of dentists carrying out NHS procedures.  
• The biggest decreases were in Greater Glasgow & Clyde (59 fewer dentists) and Lothian (54 fewer dentists). In percentage terms the biggest decreases were in Shetland (20% fewer), Highland (16% fewer) and Fife (12% fewer).
• The only health boards not to see a decrease were Western Isles, Orkney and Forth Valley.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“Today’s figures point to this government’s unacceptable failure to support NHS dentistry in Scotland. Dentists are stopping offering NHS services because of the low rates they receive for NHS work and the barriers thrown in their way by Scottish Government ministers.

“For many of them the pandemic was the last straw. They have decided it is simply less hassle to work privately.

“Liberal Democrat research recently revealed that 1 in 5 of those who cannot get a dentist appointment decide to turn to unlicensed alternatives or perform dental work on themselves. That is simply barbaric.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats believe that toothcare, like any other form of healthcare, should be universally accessible - it cannot just be for those who can afford to pay privately. Our party was instrumental in bringing forward free dental checks in Scotland, and in pressing for new dental schools to address dentist shortages, especially in more rural areas.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats are now calling for the government to rewrite its NHS Recovery Plan to give dentists the recognition they deserve and to reform funding structures so that dentists can once again take on NHS patients.”