Dentists: We need to f ill cash hole
DENTISTS have accused the Scottish Government of failing to provide enough funding for surgeries to keep giving treatment.
Surgeries were allowed to open on June 22 for emergency treatments only. Before then, NHS hubs were set up across Scotland for patients who needed urgent attention.
As Scotland enters phase three of the route out of lockdown, ‘routine’ treatments can be carried out again from July 13.
However, dentists fear social distancing and other restrictions will mean they can treat only a fraction of the patients they did previously, massively reducing their income.
But they still face the same costs for staff, equipment, cleaning and bills – as well as increased bills for PPE in the private sector, and infection control measures.
David McCall, chairman of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said: ‘We have written to [Finance Secretary] Kate Forbes several times with regard to the mixed element of dentistry, the private sector and NHS practices which deliver elements that are non-NHS, and got nowhere.
‘It seems that the Scottish Government is not prepared to fund to any other level than is already out there.’
Mr McCall also said that it is still only emergency and acute treatment which will be carried out next week. He added: ‘When they talk about routine care it is sending out the wrong message.’
The Scottish Government provides PPE for NHS dental practices but there are other costs to be considered.
Mr McCall said most practices are a mixture of NHS and private with treatments such as white fillings subsidising the underfunded service.
He added: ‘Without that activity going on a lot of practices would go under, NHS dentistry is chronically underfunded. We’ve had a financial stability package but as practices start opening again this needs to start going up.’
Private practitioners have also called for financial support.
Dentist Andrew Scott in Aberdeen said: ‘Private practices have had no support and have been under great financial pressure. It is causing a lot of stress and mental health problems. We need more financial help.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We have provided additional funding to NHS dental services during the period of lockdown and will be maintaining this as dental practices begin to open.
‘We will keep this funding under review to protect NHS dental services. We would also encourage private practices to take advantage of the range of business support initiatives available from the Scottish Government and UK Government.’
‘It is causing stress and mental health problems’