Scotland stated that it would provide free dental service to all the people, but this statement was questioned when statistics revealed that not enough dentist were available at the NHS.
More than a million Scots have not registered with an NHS dentist because they don’t have any access to one. Statistics reported that 41% of children are not registered with an NHS doctor in Grampian and Highland and 71% of the older people (over 60 years) in Argyll and Clyde.Scotland faces an acute shortage of dentist which adds to the problem of not being able to provide free dental checks. It has to convince more dentists and give them incentives so that they stick to NHS.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has also warned the Scots that the measure undertaken was a very commendable task but it will not be able to fulfill it as a major change in the policy is needed.
The Deputy Health Minister told the press that they are encouraging the dentist to stay at NHS by awarding them with incentives.
The public has different views about this whole issue. They say that a successful free dental check for all would not be possible unless everybody gets to access or register with an NHS dentist. The most important aspect of the issue is that there are not enough NHS dentists.
In reply the Deputy Health Minister stated that all his members are working on the problem and that it cannot be resolved in a day’s time. But various measures have been undertaken to develop the dental facilities across Scotland.
