Chamber
Plenary, 17 Mar 2005
17 Mar 2005 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Dentistry
I, too, welcome the minister's long-awaited statement on this substantial investment. The minister and her predecessors will be aware from my correspondence of the serious situation in Dumfries and Galloway, where no dentists—private or NHS—are taking on patients at the moment. Patients who phone the health board to ask to be put on a list are just put through to a recorded message.
Is the minister sure that there is enough capacity within—[Interruption.] Members are laughing, but this is serious in my constituency. It is not a laughing matter. Is the minister convinced that there will be sufficient capacity in areas such as Dumfries and Galloway to enable dentists to reopen their lists? If they are unable to do so, what further measures are available to enable NHS boards to fulfil their obligation to provide NHS dental treatment to children and other vulnerable groups?
Is the minister sure that there is enough capacity within—[Interruption.] Members are laughing, but this is serious in my constituency. It is not a laughing matter. Is the minister convinced that there will be sufficient capacity in areas such as Dumfries and Galloway to enable dentists to reopen their lists? If they are unable to do so, what further measures are available to enable NHS boards to fulfil their obligation to provide NHS dental treatment to children and other vulnerable groups?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
The next item of business is a statement by Rhona Brankin on dentistry. As is normal on such occasions, the minister will take questions at the end of her st...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Rhona Brankin):
Lab
The purpose of my statement is to provide the Executive's response to the consultation documents "Towards Better Oral Health in Children: A Consultation Docu...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
Because there are 20 minutes into which to fit questions and my screen shows that 18 members want to speak, I will allow the first three members two question...
Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the minister for the advance copy of the statement and welcome the £50 million a year—that is exactly the estimate that the SNP gave last week of the...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I think that Shona Robison has selective amnesia. She said last week that she thought that additional funding should be between £40 million and £50 million.
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Mr Andy Kerr):
Lab
In total.
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Absolutely. That was in total. We are providing £150 million of new money. It is important to make that distinction.We are committed to providing free dental...
Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I, too, thank the minister for the advance copy of her statement, which contained a lot of warm words and a number of welcome things. However, I do not think...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I make it clear again for the benefit of the Conservatives that we are making available £150 million of new money.Conservatives have asked in the past about ...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
The Liberal Democrats very much welcome the biggest-ever shake-up of NHS dentistry since the NHS was formed more than half a century ago. There is no doubt t...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Absolutely. It is important to make the point that, in total, we will be spending £350 million by 2008. I am grateful for Mike Rumbles's support. I know that...
Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab):
Lab
I, too, welcome the minister's long-awaited statement on this substantial investment. The minister and her predecessors will be aware from my correspondence ...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
As I said in my statement, NHS boards will now be able to access directly and employ salaried dentists. That will be hugely important in some of the more rem...
Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green):
Green
At a recent meeting with Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board, I was told that it would take five years for lists to open to NHS patients. Can the minister give a...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
The figure that Chris Ballance quotes was given before today's announcement. We estimate that, by March 2008, an additional 400,000 people will be registered...
Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the minister for her statement and welcome the unprecedented levels of spending on dental health. She talked about the expanded dental team. How does...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
We have said that we will increase the number of dental therapists by 33 per cent. It is hugely important that we have a complete dental team. There are jobs...
Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the minister for her statement and welcome many of the measures that are contained therein, which will also be welcomed by constituents in the Grampi...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I am confident that the attractiveness of the package that I have announced this afternoon will encourage dentists to return to the NHS. It is hugely importa...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the minister's excellent statement. I am sure that it will be welcomed throughout Scotland. Given the fact that the Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Ac...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
We supported the Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Bill, and believe that breastfeeding is very important in developing calcium in babies' teeth and in giving the...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
Will the new fees for oral assessment and other dental work take account of the six-minute infection control period between each patient? I also remind the m...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
The new fee structure recognises the increasing need to take infection control into consideration and the additional administration and practice running cost...
Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab):
Lab
I warmly welcome the minister's statement, in particular its emphasis on prevention. Does she agree that the foundations for good dental health are laid in t...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Yes. I agree fundamentally with Susan Deacon, which is why women who become pregnant will receive an oral health pack that explains the importance of looking...
Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
Although the statement is most welcome, we should acknowledge the fact that a large number of people out there who are perhaps among the poorest and most dis...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Absolutely. My statement is underpinned by the need to improve the oral health of all people in Scotland. However, that need is clearly much greater in some ...
Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab):
Lab
I am sure that the simplified fee structure will be welcomed, but will the minister say any more about the level of fees, particularly for oral inspection, b...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I am unable to give the member more information about specific fees at the moment because the matter is still subject to negotiation with our dentist colleag...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
What was the fee on which the increase to £355 million was based?