Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 08 February 2023
08 Feb 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Health Service Dentistry
I know that the member does not like us to talk about Brexit. However, more than 60 per cent of the dental workforce is European, so it is undeniable that Brexit is a factor in the situation that has arisen in the member’s region. What we are seeing here is the member’s head in the sand about a situation that his party has brought about in his local area.
The early intervention to support enhanced examinations in February 2022, which includes the provision of a fee for child examinations, is reflected in the official statistics, which show considerable progress in the delivery of patient care and treatment as we come out of the pandemic. I am clear that our support of the sector has ensured its recovery.
As well as the impact of Brexit on the workforce, a whole year of dental students have not qualified. However, despite those challenges, we have seen a 23 per cent increase in dentists providing NHS dental services from 2007 to 2022—the period that the SNP has been in power.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-07812, in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton, on addressing the crisis in NHS dentistry. 15:25
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am very pleased to rise for my party to speak in this debate. There is a dentistry crisis in Scotland. It can be felt everywhere—it is visited in each of o...
Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
Does Alex Cole-Hamilton agree that, since the Scottish Conservatives previously brought a debate on dentistry to the chamber, things have got worse?
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Dr Gulhane is absolutely right: things are getting worse. I am sad to say that I sometimes fear that we are becoming inured to the level of crisis in our de...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Excuse me. Could we not have sedentary chitchat, please? Thank you.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
If the cabinet secretary wants to come in, I would be quite happy to take an intervention.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Humza Yousaf)
SNP
Does Alex Cole-Hamilton recognise that Brexit, along with the pandemic, has had an impact on the dental workforce? If so, does he therefore disagree with his...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Wow. I think that I have turned up to the wrong debate. Interruption. Nevertheless, I invite the cabinet secretary to explain that to senior dentists, who ha...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Maree Todd to speak to and move amendment S5M-07812.3. You have up to six minutes, please, minister. 15:32
The Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport (Maree Todd)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to debate the important matter of access to NHS dental care, given the unprecedented impact of the pandemic and the uncerta...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Will the minister give way?
Maree Todd
SNP
Certainly—if the member is brief.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
The minister talks about the uplift in dental work compared with 2021-22. I remind her that non-aerosol generating procedures were not allowed in 2021-22, so...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
It is progress!
Maree Todd
SNP
There you go. It is undeniable that we are making progress—really good progress—towards pre-pandemic levels. We are still in the midst of a global pandemic.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Maree Todd
SNP
Give me one moment to make some progress. There is now a clear necessity to provide continued support to the sector as we move to the payment system reform....
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I welcome the minister’s contribution, which is outlining reform, but can she please give us a timetable?
Maree Todd
SNP
The timetable is clearly seen in the commitment to maintaining the bridging payments to the end of October this year; we expect the new system of reform paym...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
The minister has mentioned improvements. Could she point to the improvements in Dumfries and Galloway? Dentists are not leaving the region but leaving the NH...
Maree Todd
SNP
The member is well aware of the particular conditions in Dumfries and Galloway, which have contributed to the situation in which we are now. That area is par...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Briefly, Mr Carson, because the minister should now be bringing her remarks to a close.
Finlay Carson
Con
I appreciate the minister taking the intervention. The Brexit remark was going to come; we were just waiting for it—it is like bingo. Dentists are not leavi...
Maree Todd
SNP
I know that the member does not like us to talk about Brexit. However, more than 60 per cent of the dental workforce is European, so it is undeniable that Br...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You are over your time; you need to conclude, minister.
Maree Todd
SNP
More than 95 per cent of the Scottish population continues to be registered with an NHS dentist—a situation that we are determined to progress and improve. ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you, minister. I call Sandesh Gulhane to speak to and move amendment S6M-07812.2. 15:39
Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
NHS dentistry is in crisis. That is happening on the SNP’s watch, yet when we listen to the minister, the message seems to be, “Aren’t we doing well?” That d...
Maree Todd
SNP
I am very clear in acknowledging the challenges that the sector faces at the moment. Would Sandesh Gulhane join me in recognising the very welcome statistic ...
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
The minister will hear in the rest of my speech how badly the Government has been doing when it comes to NHS dentistry, so I ask her to listen. Interruption.