Health chiefs have widened an internal investigation into dental funding worth millions of pounds.
Since 2007, NHS Grampian has handed out more than £2million in funding to practices in the region as part of the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI).
The scheme funds new practices on the condition that 80% of their business comes from NHS patients for seven years.
In July, The Press and Journal revealed that five north-east dental practices were being investigated by the health board amid fears the terms of the grant had been breached.
Between them they have received more than £700,000 in SDAI funding.
Now it is understood the health board has widened the scope of the probe to include how the grant has been used across the region, and whether it has represented value for money.
The findings of the investigation will be reported to the health board’s audit committee in December.
Audit Scotland had previously confirmed it would be looking into allegations health bosses had mismanaged the fund, but has now said it will wait until the internal investigation has been completed.
But last night the dentist who first alerted the watchdog to the issue raised doubts over the effectiveness of the investigation.
Ross McLelland – principal dentist at Waverley Dental Practice in Aberdeen – said:
“It’s interesting that despite serious concerns being raised over a three-year period, only now after the threat of an Audit Scotland investigation do NHS Grampian actually plan to review the process.
“The real issue with value for money lies in how much ongoing NHS care and treatment is being provided, and for how long.
“Many of these SDAI practices are being sold and could potentially be lost to the NHS despite being funded by the public purse.”
NHS Grampian declined to comment on the nature of its review.
A spokeswoman said: “The internal audit referred to is the review previously confirmed by NHS Grampian. This remains ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”