MSP raises inequality concerns as some dental services only available privately

Concerns have been raised that some dental services are only available to those prepared to pay privately. 

Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant has written to health secretary Jeane Freeman to raise constituents’ concerns about the availability of treatments such as fillings and root canals.

While the services are not currently available on the NHS due to Covid-19 restrictions, they are available privately. 

Scottish government restrictions on NHS dental services do not currently apply to private practices. Ms Grant said she believed the situation will further widen health inequalities. 

“This is very concerning to me as not everyone will be able to afford these services if they are only available privately and the sad reality is that we don’t know when these restrictions will be lifted,” she added. 

Ms Grant said she understood extra PPE was necessary to keep dentists safe. However, she said it was unfair for treatments to be limited to those who can afford it. 

 

COMMENTS(2)

Add Your Comment
  • Charles Gallagher

    • September 18th, 2020 13:40

    Sadly Rhoda as you very well know or you should have, these inequalities in Dental Care have existed since the launch of the NHS in 1947 where dental sevices were treated as the poor relation and always at the back of the queue when Government investment was required!!! There have been many Labour Governments since 1947 where they have had ample opportunity to rectify this situation but always failed to do so. I believe that you, like me, believe that availability of all health care should never depend on the size of your bank balance or which insurance company you have a policy with??? But we can never achieve this so long as Wastemonster controls the ‘purse strings’!!!!

    REPLY
  • Ian Tinkler

    • September 19th, 2020 17:45

    How very typical, it is Sturgeons SNP/SG rationing treatments. The Private Health sector is just providing a service the SNP is rationing. It has nothing to do do with Covid, just a way to save money!!! Cheap and nasty, how very SNP.

    REPLY

Add Your Comment

Please note, it is the policy of The Shetland Times to publish comments and letters from named individuals only. Both forename and surname are required.

Comments are moderated. Contributors must observe normal standards of decency and tolerance for the opinions of others.

The views expressed are those of contributors and not of The Shetland Times.

The Shetland Times reserves the right to decline or remove any contribution without notice or stating reason.

Comments are limited to 200 words but please email longer articles or letters to editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk for consideration and include a daytime telephone number and your address. If emailing information in confidence please put "Not for publication" in both the subject line and at the top of the main message.

200 words left

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.