Supporting CLAPA’s End the Cleft Dental Care Crisis Campaign

That the Parliament welcomes the End the Cleft Dental Care Crisis campaign, which is led by Cleft Lip and Palate Action (CLAPA); recognises that people born with a cleft lip and/or palate may require ongoing dental care throughout their lives; understands that CLAPA’s 2025 survey found that 49% of respondents reported difficulties accessing local dental services, 42% reported inadequate care linked to a lack of professional training or understanding, 38% reported cost barriers and 7% reported being refused care because of their cleft; commends the people in the cleft community who shared their experiences and helped shape the campaign; notes that more than 4,000 people signed its petition calling for guaranteed lifelong NHS dental care; welcomes the publication of practical guidance for primary dental care teams, led by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry and developed with the Cleft Clinical Excellence Networks within the Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Restorative Dentistry UK and the British Orthodontic Society, in partnership with CLAPA; recognises the contribution of specialist cleft teams and general dental professionals across Scotland; supports the campaign’s aims of guaranteed lifelong access to NHS dental care, improved cleft education and training for dental professionals, better integration between general dentistry and specialist cleft services, and transparent reporting on access to care, and calls on the Scottish Government to work with CLAPA, NHS boards, dental professionals and the cleft community to advance these aims and promote the guidance across Scotland.