MSP calls for faster solution to Orkney’s dental problems.

Orkney is recognised as being an area where access to dental services is a problem.

That’s according to the minister for public health, who told Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, that the county is being targeted by the Scottish Dental Access Initiative and the Recruitment & Retention Allowances.

But, Mr McArthur said that more needs to be done to end the long waiting time to get on an NHS dentist’s list in Orkney.

Only 51.6 per cent of adults in Orkney are registered with an NHS dentist, prompting Mr McArthur wrote to the cabinet secretary for health, urging her to act.

Mr McArthur said: “I will be meeting NHS Orkney again shortly to discuss this issue and examine ways which improvements might be accelerated. In particular, I am keen to see delivery of a new hospital, including dental facilities, secured as soon as possible. Meantime, I will certainly do what I can to maintain the pressure on ministers to help NHS Orkney to end the current unacceptably long wait many in Orkney face before they can get access to a basic NHS dental service.”