- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional #1 million made available this financial year as part of its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland has been allocated to enhance dental health.
Answer
Funding has been made available towards dentists continuing professional development and will be made available in respect of the caries prevention scheme.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its target of 120 dental students graduating annually from both dental schools, as set out in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland, is sufficient to satisfy the level of demand and ensure access to treatment for all who wish it.
Answer
We are committed to improving access to dental services in Scotland and increasing our targeted output of dental graduates is only one of several options. We are aware that further increases to the record number of dentists currently working in Scotland will not in itself ensure equal access to treatment across all parts of the country. This is why we are looking to expand the contribution that can be made by the professions complementary to dentistry and are also considering further ways to attract dentists to Scotland, particularly to work in remote and rural areas.The Scottish Advisory Committee on the Dental Workforce will continue to monitor the situation regarding the provision of the dental workforce in Scotland.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the enhanced registration scheme has been introduced for 6 to 8 year olds in deprivation categories 5 to 7 which includes the requirement for fissure sealing the first molars of these children, as detailed in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland, August 2000.
Answer
We have concluded successfully discussions with the dental profession on the introduction of a caries prevention scheme for six and seven-year-olds in all deprivation categories which includes fissure sealing the first molars of these children. I will announce shortly further details of the introduction of this scheme.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new dental therapy course and basic training courses for dental nurses in all areas have been established, as recommended in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer
At present no dental therapist courses have been established. We are currently undertaking a feasibility study in Glasgow Dental Hospital and School to identify the costs and structures required to initiate a dental therapy course in Scotland.Through generalised support of dental nurse training there has been a considerable increase in the numbers of dental nurses obtaining dental nurse qualifications. In the last 12-month period I can confirm that we have met our target with 213 dental nurses newly qualified in Scotland.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current deficiency in funding for the Dundee Dental School has been corrected in the light of the work on the funding of dental schools undertaken by the National Purchasing Unit in Sheffield and outlined in the report by the Scottish Advisory Committee on the Dental Workforce, Workforce Planning for Dentistry in Scotland: A Strategic Review - Interim Report and Recommendations.
Answer
Following work carried out by the National Purchasing Unit on behalf of the Scottish Executive, Dundee Dental School has received a substantial increase in funding over the last four years and is now fully funded to meet the cost of providing training to undergraduate dental students.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical assistant posts have been created for (a) orthodontics, (b) surgical dentistry and (c) paediatric dentistry, as outlined in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer
The commitment in An Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland to create clinical assistant posts in various specialties was intended to provide additional investment in continuing professional development for general dental practitioners (GDPs). Since the publication of the Action Plan, and in the light of the recommendations made by the Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body, considerable investment has been made in the continuing professional development of GDPs and specialists in dentistry in other ways, and therefore no additional clinical assistant posts in these areas have been created. The additional investment is £1.5 million by the end of this year.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the review and promotion of dental access schemes for rural areas, as proposed in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer
The Executive intends to undertake a Scotland-wide review of the Scottish Dental Access Initiative in the near future to ascertain the effect to date and assist planning for the future. In the meantime, local NHS systems are being encouraged to make full use of the existing support available to increase access to dental services.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposals for the establishment of drop-in centres in the major cities and the enhanced use of mobile services will be sought, as outlined in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer
The Executive intends to discuss with the relevant NHS Boards/Primary Care Trusts the need for drop-in services in the major cities and specific proposals to respond to those needs. Similar action will be taken in relation to other areas where mobile services would be appropriate.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 20 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has developed proposals with health boards on the fluoridation of the water supply, as outlined in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18174 on 28 September 2001.
- Asked by: Mary Scanlon, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals for oral cancer surveillance and improved preventative services for the elderly have been developed following its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland.
Answer
Proposals for oral cancer screening, involving both medical and dental settings, are at an advanced stage and should be submitted to Chief Scientist Office in the near future. The Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) Expert Group on the Health of Older People is considering means of improving the oral health of older people as part of a wider health review. The sub-group on oral health of the elderly, set up to support implementation of the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland and linking to the work of the CMO Group, is undertaking a review of the issues relevant to improving the oral health of the elderly.
