Preventing the Collapse of NHS Dentistry in Scotland (Amendment 2)
S6M-03281.2: As an amendment to motion S6M-03281 in the name of Sandesh Gulhane (Preventing the Collapse of NHS Dentistry in Scotland), leave out from “with concern” to end and insert “the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of healthcare, not least on the delivery of dental services due to the volume of aerosol generating procedures, and the impact that this has had on patients seeking appointments during this period; acknowledges that the challenges posed by the pandemic, including the backlog of care, are not unique to Scotland; notes the substantial pandemic-related investment in dentistry of the last two years that includes £5 million for ventilation improvements, £7.5 million for new dental drills, £35 million for additional PPE, and £50 million of financial support to dental practices; recognises that investment in NHS dentistry is increasing to a record high level with a 9% increase in the budget for dental services in 2022-23, including extending the reach of the Childsmile programme in high-street practices to young people up to 17 years of age; welcomes that the Scottish Government is providing dentists with an additional £20 million from February 2022 to give them new and additional incentives to see more patients, and that discussions continue with the British Dental Association on further reforms to support recovery; believes that NHS dentistry, like all NHS services, should be free at the point of need and supports the removal of all NHS dental charges to patients by the end of this parliamentary session, and further supports the Scottish Government’s Oral Health Improvement Plan, which underpins that the frequency of dental checks should be shaped by clinical evidence and an individual patient’s oral health risk assessment, with those at the highest risk being seen more frequently.”

Original motion(S6M-03281):
That the Parliament notes with concern that almost half of people in Scotland have been unable to see an NHS dentist for the last two years; further notes the Scottish Government’s proposed withdrawal of emergency funding provided to dental practices on 1 April 2022; believes that this funding should be maintained for the upcoming financial year in recognition of the considerable efforts still required to restore services and reduce the significant backlog of patients seeking dental treatment, particularly while maintaining enhanced infection control measures; recognises the importance of regular dental check-ups for people of all ages, both for good dental hygiene and in the detection of some forms of oral cancer; acknowledges the concerns expressed by many in the profession that the current settlement risks making NHS dentistry financially unviable; calls on the Scottish Government to come forward with a plan for ensuring the long-term sustainability of NHS dentistry, including a complete overhaul of the current fee structure to more accurately reflect modern dentistry; further calls on the Scottish Government to increase the dental tariffs provided by government to NHS dentists by a third as an interim measure to sustain NHS dental services, and ensure that all people in Scotland are able to access a dental check-up in 2022 and every year as clinically required thereafter, and calls for the development of a more holistic service that NHS patients deserve, in place of the current conveyor belt system.