The Scottish Government was unable to answer a parliamentary question regarding the number of NHS dentists who require a deposit to be paid before registering with them.
In response to a question submitted by Sarah Boyack MSP, the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, said that the information requested “is not held centrally by the Scottish Government,” raising concerns about the scale of the problem and the number of people it affects.
Earlier in May, the Scottish Labour MSP for Lothian, Sarah Boyack discovered that 75% of NHS Dentists in Edinburgh and Lothians are no longer accepting new NHS patients and some of those that are accepting new patients, are charging patients to do so.
The Lothian MSP has recently released findings showing that more than 3 in 4 Dental Practices serving patients in Musselburgh are no longer accepting NHS Patients.
This comes amid concerns over dentistry services failing to recover from the pandemic and fears that NHS dentists are becoming increasingly inaccessible.
Commenting Sarah Boyack, Labour MSP, said: “How can the Scottish Government get a grip of the crisis facing our NHS Dentists if they have no clue about how it is working?
“Following concerns from constituents in Edinburgh and the Lothians, that they are unable to register with an NHS Dentist I conducted research on the state of NHS Dentistry in Lothian and the finding were shocking.
“When asked about this, the Scottish Government admitted they have no clue and do not hold any information about this.
“The SNP have created a two-tiered healthcare system that prioritises those who can afford to pay over anyone else.
“It is a disgrace that in a cost-of-living crisis the SNP/Green Scottish Government knows nothing about the added costs being placed on patients, which has been caused by their managed decline of the NHS and lack of support for dentists.
“People deserve better than a botched two-tiered system that fails the most vulnerable.”
- Data collected by the office of Sarah Boyack MSP on 5th May 2022 for 39 NHS Dentists in Edinburgh
| Practice Name | Accepting Patients | Status on NHS Inform |
| Meadowbank Dental Practice | No | Open |
| Holyrood Dental Care | No | Open |
| Parkside Dental Practice | No | Open |
| Abbeymount Dental Care | No | Open |
| Easter Road Dental Practice | No | Open |
| University Dental Care | No | Open |
| Bupa Dental Care Prestonfield | No | Open |
| Montgomery Street Dental Practice | No | Open |
| Hope Park Dental Practice | No | Open |
| Vitality Dental Care | No | Open |
| LW Dental | No | Open |
| Barbour Dental Care | No | Closed |
| Edinburgh Dental | Yes | Open |
| Annandale Dental Care | Yes | Open |
| Craigmillar Dental Centre | No | Open |
| Pilrig Dental Practice | No | Open |
| Duddingston Dental Practice | No | Open |
| KF Dental Care | No | Open |
| Citrus Dental Practice | No | Open |
| Marchmont Dental Care | No | Open |
| Bellevue Dental Practice | Yes | Open |
| Leith Walk Dental Practice | Yes | Open |
| Southside Dental Care | No | Closed |
| Edinburgh Gums and Teeth | No | Open |
| Newkirkgate Dental Care | No | Open |
| Meadows Dental Clinic | no | Closed |
| Frederick Dental Care | Yes | Open |
| Lauriston Dental Care | No | Open |
| Duddingston Park | No | Open |
| NinetyfiveDental | No | Open |
| City Health Clinic | No | Open |
| Gilmore Dental Practice | No | Open |
| Great Junction Dental Practice | No | Open |
| Edinburgh Orthodontics | No | Open |
| Mydentist Portobello | No | Open |
| Portobello Dental Clinic | Yes | Open |
| Dental Express | No | Open |
| Craigentinny Dental Care | No | Open |
- Question submitted:
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Scottish Labour Party): To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many NHS dentists require patients to pay a deposit before registering with them.
S6W-17895
Jenni Minto: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.