Current status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 21 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provided to NHS Dumfries and Galloway in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07 to recruit, retain and train NHS dentists.
A number of allowances are availablefor the recruitment, retention and training of NHS Dentists. Details of these allowancescan be found on the dental web pages on the Scottish Executive website. Paymentsin respect of 2004-05 for NHS Dumfries and Galloway can be found in the ScottishDental Practice Board (SDBP) Annual report 2004-05. The SDPB report for 2005-06has not yet been published and payment details for 2006-07 are not currently available.
Underthe Primary and Community care premises modernisation programme for 2006-07 and2007-08, NHS Dumfries and Galloway will receive £2.37 million towards a new dentalcentre in Dumfries which will include dental training facilities. £300,000of this sum has already been allocated in the current financial year.
The Executive has also assistedfinancially NHS Dumfries and Galloway with the recruitment of five dentists from Polandwho are now working in that area.