Chamber and committees

NHS general dental services are regulated under Section 25 of the NHS (Scotland) Act 1978 and the NHS (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2010. The professional regulation of dentists is specifically reserved to the UK Government by The Scotland Act 1998. The General Dental Council (GDC) has UK-wide statutory responsibility for safeguarding the public by maintaining the register of dentists who are qualified and competent to work in the UK.

The GDC also regulates, dental nurses, dental technicians clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists. However the legislation governing the regulation of dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists is devolved to the Scottish Parliament as the groups were regulated following The Scotland Act 1998.

As part of normal workforce planning arrangements, the Scottish Government keeps under regular review the future needs for the NHSScotland dental workforce.

Following extensive analytical work undertaken jointly by NHS Education for Scotland and National Services Scotland, as published in their bi-annual report Dental Workforce Report – September 2012, and taking into consideration advice from the Chief Dental Officer for Scotland, the Scottish Government has agreed to reduce the number of funded dental student places by 17 for the 2013-14 academic year.

All dental practitioners are regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC). The professional regulation of dentists is reserved to the UK Government by the Scotland Act 1998. The General Dental Council (GDC) has UK-wide statutory responsibility for safeguarding the public by maintaining the register of dentists who are qualified and competent to work in the UK.

The GDC also regulates dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists.

Any dentist or dental body corporate wishing to provide, or assist with the provision, of NHS General Dental Services (GDS) in an area is required to join the relevant NHS board’s dental list. As part of the NHS board’s listing procedures applicants are required to provide a range of information, including references, criminal record certificates, etc. To check safety and quality all NHS boards are required to inspect practice premises from where NHS GDS are provided in their area on a three year rolling programme. Treatment provided under GDS is monitored by NHS boards and Practitioner Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland.

NHS general dental services (GDS) and all dental practices which provide any GDS are subject to inspection and monitoring and there are very few dental practices in Scotland which do not provide some NHS care. However, Dental practices in Scotland which provide only private treatment are not subject to regulation at this time.

All dental practitioners are regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC). The professional regulation of dentists is reserved to the UK Government by the Scotland Act 1998. The GDC has UK-wide statutory responsibility for safeguarding the public by maintaining the register of dentists who are qualified and competent to work in the UK. The GDC also regulates; dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists.

There are no plans to replace the current building. A programme of investment established in 2007-08 into the building infrastructure continues on an annual basis.

Since 2007-08 a total of £11,014,000 has been invested, with a further £2 million to be invested in 2013-2014.

The main concern of the Scottish Government is that dentists beginning independent practice in Scotland are able to function safely. The General Dental Council, as the Professional regulatory body for dentists, is currently undertaking a review of vocational training and the Scottish Government will take appropriate action based on the findings of the review.

Since 2007-2008, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has spent the following on repairs and maintenance at the Glasgow Dental Hospital:

The figures include estates staffing costs.

Access to Railway Crossings is a matter for the Infrastructure Manager, which includes Network Rail, Port Authorities, Heritage Railway Companies, etc., that own and operates them, and the Office of Rail Regulation.

The public have rights of access to all public level crossings; however access to private user-worked crossings is restricted to the authorised users only.

Network Rail is required to comply with all applicable legislation, including access, at railway crossings.

Overseas graduates from any UK, including Scottish, dental school may apply for dental Vocational Training (VT) places in Scotland. All overseas graduates are subject to United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) eligibility criteria, and one overseas Scottish graduate in 2013 has secured a VT place, subject to satisfactory completion of UKBA requirements.