Chamber
Plenary, 30 Nov 2000
30 Nov 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Dental Services (Grampian)
I would like to thank Mike Rumbles for this members' debate, which allows us to put on record our concerns about the provision of dental services in the north-east. Oral health is an important part of overall health, and statistics on oral health in Scotland make pretty dismal reading. To improve those statistics, people will need access to dentists—that is the single most important thing that we can do to help improve dental health. How can we encourage people to go to the dentist if there is not a dentist within 50 miles?
The remuneration of dentists impacts on the number of dentists that we have. Most general dental practitioners, after they graduate, set up in practice and have to take on a large debt burden. We have to ask whether their remuneration under the current NHS system is adequate for them to repay that debt in a reasonable time and whether it is adequate to allow them to re-equip and to upgrade existing equipment as their careers progress. The option of salaried dentists has been considered and employed in Grampian to fill some of the gaps in general dental service provision. However, it has proved difficult to attract salaried dentists to work in the area; even with that option there is still a shortfall in the number of dentists.
Ben Wallace mentioned the on-going professional development of dentists and the fact that if we had the option of offering on-going training to new dental graduates in the north-east, we might persuade them to settle there. At the moment people must undertake postgraduate training elsewhere and people tend to settle where they have put down roots and made connections.
No one has mentioned the demographic time bomb. Many of our general dental practitioners are in their late 40s and 50s. When they retire, how will we replace them?
The north-east is disadvantaged by the allocation of resources. Arbuthnott said that his formula was based on less than robust data. That is something that must be considered in much greater depth, in relation to the allocation of not only health service resources, but other resources.
The remuneration of dentists impacts on the number of dentists that we have. Most general dental practitioners, after they graduate, set up in practice and have to take on a large debt burden. We have to ask whether their remuneration under the current NHS system is adequate for them to repay that debt in a reasonable time and whether it is adequate to allow them to re-equip and to upgrade existing equipment as their careers progress. The option of salaried dentists has been considered and employed in Grampian to fill some of the gaps in general dental service provision. However, it has proved difficult to attract salaried dentists to work in the area; even with that option there is still a shortfall in the number of dentists.
Ben Wallace mentioned the on-going professional development of dentists and the fact that if we had the option of offering on-going training to new dental graduates in the north-east, we might persuade them to settle there. At the moment people must undertake postgraduate training elsewhere and people tend to settle where they have put down roots and made connections.
No one has mentioned the demographic time bomb. Many of our general dental practitioners are in their late 40s and 50s. When they retire, how will we replace them?
The north-east is disadvantaged by the allocation of resources. Arbuthnott said that his formula was based on less than robust data. That is something that must be considered in much greater depth, in relation to the allocation of not only health service resources, but other resources.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
We now come to the members' business debate on motion S1M-1347, in the name of Mike Rumbles, on access to national health service dental services in Grampian...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament recognises that improving access to NHS dental services is a public health priority, welcomes the publication by the Scottish Executive o...
Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
I am pleased to open this evening's debate, which is designed to highlight the problems of accessing NHS dental treatment, particularly in the Grampian area....
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
Six members have asked to speak, so speeches should be around three minutes, please.
Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to debate this matter and the constructive approach of Mike Rumbles's motion. He is primarily concerned with access to dentistry in...
Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Mike Rumbles on securing this evening's debate and on sporting a Highland outfit. I think it is fair to say that the subject of the debate was...
Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I would like to thank Mike Rumbles for giving us the chance to highlight the continuing problems in Grampian. His outline of the situation and his proposals ...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
I would like to thank Mike Rumbles for this members' debate, which allows us to put on record our concerns about the provision of dental services in the nort...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Mike Rumbles on securing today's debate and thank him for giving us an opportunity to discuss dentistry. I would also like to take the opportu...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
I congratulate Mike Rumbles on securing this debate, and I am grateful to all members who have contributed to it.During the debate on primary care dental ser...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I welcome the minister's comments on the need for more consultants which has been recognised in Grampian. Does the minister also accept that for every new co...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
The discussion paper to which I referred earlier proposed significant increases in the number of professionals who are complementary to dentistry to enhance ...
Ben Wallace:
Con
Will the minister take on board the fact that members of Grampian Health Board have almost stopped advertising? Having spent so much money on trying to recru...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I hear what Ben Wallace is saying. I am told that an advertising campaign is going on and that, in January 2001, adverts will be placed, but I will check on ...
Meeting closed at 17:43.