Craig Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, has said the SNP are failing to recognise the risk to the future of NHS dentistry in the Scottish Borders amid a growing backlog across the service.
Mr Hoy’s call comes after his party led a debate and held a vote in Parliament calling out the SNP’s failures to give dental services the resources they need to tackle the pandemic backlog.
He also backed calls for the SNP Government to reverse its decision to withdraw emergency funding from dental practices in NHS Borders from April 1.
Findings from the British Dental Association show that four out of five dentists plan to scale back their NHS commitments while more than a third are ‘likely’ or ‘extremely likely’ to stop NHS work entirely if this funding is cut.
However, the SNP rejected the Scottish Conservative motion, led by Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP.
Craig says the most deprived communities in the Borders have been hit hardest by the spiralling backlog of appointments and not being able to routinely see their dentist during the last two years.
He says a new long-term funding deal is required for dentists to ensure that patients in NHS Borders can once again enjoy regular dental check-ups.
Commenting on the situation, Mr Hoy said: “Humza Yousaf needs to wake up to the scale of the crisis in NHS dentistry in NHS Borders and take action now.
“A huge backlog of appointments have built up during the pandemic and it is our poorest communities in the Borders which have suffered the most.
“That is completely unacceptable.
“The British Dental Association have been warning for months that there could be a mass exodus of NHS dentists unless Humza Yousaf listened to their concerns, but he has completely failed to do so.
“It is hugely disappointing that the SNP rejected this motion from the Scottish Conservatives.
“We must clear this backlog in NHS Borders and ensure patients can get regular check-ups once again.
“A long-term funding deal for NHS dentists is essential but in the meantime the SNP must not withdraw emergency funding on April 1 or more patients will suffer. It’s clear the SNP have failed to grasp the magnitude of the situation across NHS Borders.”
