This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Modernising NHS Dental Services
26/01/2004
Extra funding of £1.5 million is to help provide NHS
dental services in parts of Scotland where there are gaps
in provision.
Deputy Health Minister Tom McCabe announced the
investment at the first of a series of local meetings which
are to be held around Scotland to discuss the Executive's
consultation, "Modernising NHS Dental Services in
Scotland."
NHS Boards are being invited to bid for the money, made
available through the Primary Care Modernisation Fund, to
build new premises, adapt existing premises or invest in
new equipment.
Speaking in Stirling, Mr McCabe said:
"Over the past few months the Executive has announced a
number of short term measures to improve the recruitment
and retention of dentists and upgrade or expand
premises.
"This money brings the total invested in NHS dentistry
since 2002 to over £10 million. It will be used to ensure
that more people have access to quality NHS dental
care."
The Primary Care Modernisation Fund has already helped
provide a number of additional services around Scotland
including:
- A new walk-in treatment centre in Edinburgh
- Improved emergency access in Tayside and Caithness
& Sutherland
- A dedicated new facility in Orkney
- Extensions to primary care facilities in Highland
to accommodate dentistry
- Dental outreach training initiatives in Greater
Glasgow, Renfrew and Inverclyde
Alongside these short term measures the Executive has
launched a wide-ranging consultation on the future of NHS
dentistry in Scotland. The event in Stirling today is the
first in a series of meetings across the country, organised
by the Executive, to hear views from the dental profession
and patient representatives.
Mr McCabe said:
"As I said in November when we launched the
consultation, the present system of delivering NHS dental
services is no longer sustainable. While this funding is a
step in the right direction it is not a solution.
"Today's meeting is the first in a series across
Scotland to gather views and ideas from interested parties
about new ways in which we can provide NHS dental services
in the future.
"We have already received a substantial response to the
consultation and as a result I have decided to extend the
consultation period by one month. I look forward to hearing
the views of NHS staff, dentists and the public over the
coming months."
The Primary and Community Care Modernisation Fund has
been underway since 1999. So far £51 million has been
directly committed to over 100 projects across Scotland,
with the majority of investment already completed. In
December 2003 an extension to the programme was announced
for 2004-06 and £15 million was allocated to NHS Boards for
joint working projects with their local authority partners.
A further £4 million was announced to support the Community
Health Service Centre commitment in the Executive's
Partnership Agreement.
The closing date for bids for the £1.5 million announced
today is March 19, 2004.
The consultation,
Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland, is
currently underway and aims to identify ways forward for
NHS dentistry in Scotland. The consultation has now been
extended to FridayApril 2, 2004.
Short term measures to ease recruitment and retention in
the profession
where set out in an Executive
news release in November 2003.