NHS admits gap in East Ross dental provision
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PEOPLE living in Alness and Invergordon are still struggling to access NHS dental care despite a reduction in waiting lists elsewhere.
Alexandra Fraser, dental service development manager for NHS Highland, said the number of Highland children and adults registered with an NHS dentist went up in the last nine months but a small number of areas still have limited access.
She said: "They include North West Sutherland, where the nearest service is in either Lairg or Lochinver. A school visiting service is available for children in Kinlochbervie and work is underway to identify a suitable location for a part time dental service for the community and NHS Highland will be seeking Scottish Government approval to introduce this service. There also continues to be limited access in Alness and Invergordon but it is anticipated that the newly-opened Tain Dental Care practice within the Tain Health Centre will improve this situation."
Figures show 85.7 per cent of Highland children and 68.8 per cent of adults are registered with an NHS dentist, comparing to 85.5 per cent of children and 66.3 per cent adults registered in January.
People living in Inverness, Nairn, Aviemore, Dingwall, Tain, Gairloch, Fort William, Thurso, Golspie and Kyle have been able to register without having to join a waiting list since the start of the year – but just four years ago the list stood at more than 14,500.
Ms Fraser said the improvement was down to NHS Highland’s investment in expanding and upgrading its network of dental clinics and to capital funds granted to help independent contractors to set up dental practices.
