Inverclyde’s Member of Parliament, Martin McCluskey, has called on health authorities to reinstate local emergency dental clinics, amplifying his campaign in response to the growing dental crisis affecting the area. With increasing numbers of Inverclyde residents forced to travel outside the region for NHS dental appointments, McCluskey is pressing for urgent action to address the issue.
In recent years, dental services in Inverclyde have come under significant strain, with local practices closing their lists to new NHS patients. The situation worsened when Greenock’s Ardgowan Dental Practice discontinued NHS services altogether, and MyDentist, a nearby surgery, closed its doors last year.
In reaction to McCluskey’s campaign, local health board leaders informed the Telegraph that a summit with dental practices is set to take place to discuss potential emergency care solutions for Inverclyde. There is also interest in a scheme aimed at attracting new dental practices to the area.
However, as the summit draws near, McCluskey has emphasized the need for swift, tangible outcomes. “It’s encouraging that local dentists are being brought together, but what we really need is an action plan that delivers results for patients,” McCluskey said. “At the very least, the emergency care pilot that had been operating at the health centre should be reinstated to ensure local access for everyone.”
The health board has confirmed that it plans to review the ‘test of change’ program at the Greenock Health and Care Centre, which was previously designed to offer emergency care for unregistered patients in the area. Additionally, McCluskey has expressed concern over the limited success of the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI), a scheme intended to provide financial incentives to attract dental practices to Inverclyde. Despite being in operation for several months, the initiative has only generated one formal application, which is currently under review.
“The SDAI has been running for months with minimal interest, which is disappointing,” McCluskey remarked. “When can patients expect to see real results from this scheme?”
The Ardgowan Dental Practice, which recently ceased NHS services, cited rising operational costs and long-standing underfunding from successive governments as reasons for its closure. Concerns regarding dental services in the region have been raised across several forums, including the Inverclyde Integrated Joint Board and Inverclyde Council’s social work and scrutiny panel.
The Telegraph reported last year that no dental surgery in Inverclyde was accepting new NHS patients, with some practices also operating lengthy waiting lists. Residents have been instructed to seek dental care in Renfrewshire.
In response, McCluskey is urging local residents to share their experiences to support the ongoing campaign for improved dental services in Inverclyde.
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