Scotland - 80,000 still without NHS dentist as bid to cut waiting list grinds to halt

80,000 still without NHS dentist as bid to cut waiting list grinds to halt
Date: 04 January 2010
By LYNDSAY MOSS HEALTH REPORTER
THE number of Scots stuck on waiting lists for access to an NHS dentist has reached a near-standstill, figures obtained by The Scotsman have revealed.

Almost 80,000 Scots are still waiting to be registered on practices' books, prompting calls for the Scottish Government to reassess basic care provision.

Overall, across Scotland, boards revealed that 79,375 people were on waiting lists for an NHS dentist – down only slightly on 82,166 the same time the previous year – and, in some large rural areas, numbers grew. NHS Grampian said it had 31,798 people on its list compared to 30,936 the year before and, in the Borders, the figure was 7,500, up from 6,000 the previous year............