Shortage of dentists in Moray increasing workload for GPs
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How the shortage of dentists in Moray is causing an increase in workload for GP practices came under discussion yesterday.
Dr Malcolm Simmons told a meeting of the Moray Integration Joint Board's (MIJB) clinical care and governance committee that he had been the brunt of frustration from a patient suffering from dental pain.
Dr Simmons, who works for the Culbin medical practice in Forres, said: "We frequently see people contacting their GP practice with their dental problems.
"It’s a significant proportion of work.
"I’m not a dentist and I’m not the best placed to say what decisions should be made.
"My concern is people in Moray, who are on very low incomes with other problems, are left with very few options."
Dr Simmons added the workload included providing prescriptions for painkillers and issuing sick notes for those unable to work from dental pain.
A package of measures to attract dentist to Moray was approved two years ago.
But while there has been some interest, no applications have been received.
No NHS practices in Moray are accepting adult patients.
Meanwhile an increasing number of patients are unable to access routine and preventative NHS care.
Derick Murray, who chairs the MIJB committee, said: "Dentists are trained using public funds, Couldn’t there be some way after graduation that they must provide a service for the public?"
Simon Bokor-Ingram, chief officer for Health and Social Care Moray, told the meeting that issue was "mooted frequently".
But any decision would have to be taken at a national government level.
Urgent and emergency care is still carried out by the Moray Public Dental Service.
However plans to widen that service have been hampered by recruitment issues.
The Scottish Government is currently revising the dental remuneration and fees package, which will be implemented from the start of November.
Laura Stevenson, dental clinical lead, said: "Recruitment is an issue, and we’re doing our best to make the NHS more attractive."
A public information campaign is being planned so that patients with urgent problems know who to contact.
