Surge in isles NHS dental patients

THERE has been a surge in the number of people in Orkney who are now registered with a dentist, according to figures published by NHS Scotland.

The latest statistics show that 71% of children and 48% of adults have an NHS dentist, compared with 27% of children and 19% of adults in 2004.

Moya Nelson, chief administrative dental officer for NHS Orkney, welcomed the news, but admitted that the health board still had to improve.

She said: “I am delighted that all our hard work and long-term recruitment plans are beginning to take effect.

“We are moving in the right direction but have to acknowledge the challenge that staff face in continuing to provide routine and emergency treatment to this number of registered patients, along with the emergency service to all unregistered patients."

Private dentistry is available to islanders at the Earl’s Palace Dental Centre at Kirkwall, while NHS patients could also soon benefit from a new dental centre on Orkney.

Initial funding of £1.3million was granted by the Scottish Government earlier this year for the facility, with work on the plans for it now under way. The NHS Orkney Dental Department is also looking at ways of reducing the number of wasted appointments with a text messaging reminder system being looked at as a possible solution.