I won’t be reading Sandesh Gulhane’s comments but I feel sure this evidence will be absent:
95.4% of the Scottish population were registered with an NHS dentist as at 30 September 2022. Nearly all adults living in the most deprived areas were registered with an NHS dentist in September 2022, compared to 91.9% in the least deprived areas.
Meanwhile in England:
Thousands of children in England facing ‘heartbreaking’ waits for NHS dental care
The Scottish government said that more than 95% of the population were registered with an NHS dentist. It added that the dental workforce in Scotland (54 dentists per 100,000 population) was stronger than in England (42 per 100,000 population).https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66327813
From Public Health Scotland on 22 August 2023: The number of examinations paid in the quarter ending June 2023 was 782,783; an increase of 8% compared to the previous quarter (727,751).
This was the fourth quarter in a row when examinations increased: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-dental-treatments-report-quarterly/nhs-dental-treatment-statistics-quarter-ending-30-june-2023
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Just saw the A3 pamphlet from said part time doctor/ politician.
Both sides of a full colour addition to the landfill says the same thing.
Basically, all unionists in East Renfrewshire should vote for him to depose the SNP mp.
Money no object considering it MAY be a year until the GE.
The same idea as the Murray in Edinburgh.
Two sides of the same bahookie.
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A person I know who has moved back to Scotland after spending many years I England went to the dentist to register NHS no problem was very surprised and shocked it was so easy so we are not as bad as Unionist say.
O/T came across this have you seen it.
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Tell me , anyone – Does a photograph exist where Brylcreem Gulhane is NOT wearing an NHS lanyard .
Does he buy them from Ebay or is he charging the NHS for his ?
Does he wear it in bed ?
Will he be electioneering in East Renfrewshire wearing one ?
Does he not have any connections with NHS surgeons who could have it surgically removed from his neck – or he could go Private ?
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Telegraph up for sale. No takers. Barclays trying to buy it back with Saudi money. Barclay threatened with jail for contempt. Owes ex wife £100Million but will not cough up. No spare cash available. Tax evasion. Non Dom.
The Press is illegally owned by tax evading Non Dom’s. In a total mess. Readership lower and lower. Subscription cannot support the expense. Loss making. Loss leaders. Printing nonsense. Printing Press for UK Gov propaganda. Lucrative contracts of public monies printing UKGov literature and pamphlets.
The reported ‘stories’ have no relevance to people’s lives. Easily contradicted on the internet.
The UK Gov is supposed to ensure a free nd balanced Press. Without a free and balanced Press there is no democracy. Not a Press owned by unlawful non Dom’s breaking the Law. The Leveson recommendations not implemented.
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The article in question by Daniel Sanderson https://archive.ph/I0BjO relies heavily on “Sources within the sector said…” and “It is claimed that…” with “While some studies have suggested…” feeding into the usual Gulhane hyperbolic nonsense.
A sample of what England is being fed by Sanderson is “Earlier this year it emerged that no dentists were taking on NHS patients in the whole of Dumfries and Galloway”, as if the 149,000 population scattered over 6,430 sq km don’t have enough problems getting a bus…
As Scott observed upthread, little wonder folks living in England believe what they do when they’re fed such tripe, with Gulhane’s usual nonsense served as dessert…
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Good to get the archived link to the article. Reading it in full confirms that the journalist has worked assiduously to create a negative frame: the information on reforms to NHS dentistry in Scotland is partial and designed to misrepresent and, candidly, to deceive readers . That an MSP who’s also a member of the medical profession is complicit in this is disreputable but knowing the track record of this Tory not surprising.
I’d like to add to the useful context provided in the main blog post. Firstly here are extracts from an article published on the British Dental Association’s website (11 January 2023) entitled: ‘The four nations’ wishes for 2023′
‘In England there is an undeniable growing shift from NHS to private provision. Although large numbers of NHS contracts have not yet been handed back, NHS delivery is down and dental plan providers are busier than ever, with many practices seeking to offer private capitation schemes to their existing patient base.
‘Disillusionment towards NHS dentistry is not a new trend, however, given the current economic climate there is an urgent need for a long-term fix to the discredited Units of Dental Activity system and support for practices looking to shift the balance of care.
‘The pandemic left the legacy of a backlog in care, with no NHS availability in many parts of the country.’
Mr Gulhane’s Tory colleagues in government don’t seem to be doing a great job with NHS dentistry in England – but given they’re Tories is that part of the grand plan?
On Wales – ‘Reports from the Community Health Councils across Wales IDENTIFIED THAT ACCESS FOR NEW PATIENTS IS THE WORST IN THE UK, having a significant impact on oral health.’ (my emphasis)
On Scotland – ‘Scotland has much to be proud of in relation to oral health improvement measures, programmes were impacted by pandemic public health measures. All schemes focus on promoting and supporting oral health amongst the most at risk, but these have experienced reduced activity over the last few years.
‘In 2022, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care promised to meet the expectations for an administratively simpler and more clinically focused system with a reform programme.’
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Picking up the last bit from the BDA article: ‘‘In 2022, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care promised to meet the expectations for an administratively simpler and more clinically focused system with a reform programme.’
From the Scottish Government website (27 July 2023): ‘Increased fees for NHS dentists – ‘Improved payment system to expand services.’ (with my emphasis)
‘NHS dental teams WILL RECEIVE INCREASED FEES under a new payment structure which will help them to provide enhanced NHS care and treatment.’
‘Developed in partnership with the dental sector and as part of the Oral Health Improvement Plan, the reforms also include AN ADDITIONAL £10 MILLION from the Scottish Government to support the delivery of laboratory-based treatment items, such as dentures.’
‘The updated system will drive GREATER CONSIDERATION OF PATIENTS’ SPECIFIC ORAL HEALTH NEEDS, with more focus on patient-centred care such as preventative periodontal – gum disease – treatment.’
‘For dentists it will STREAMLINE ITEM OF SERVICE PAYMENTS by reducing the numbers of fees from over 700 to 45, cutting bureaucracy and giving them GREATER AUTHORITY OVER THE TREATMENTS OFFERED.’
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Superbly done sir.
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The Telegraph and Gulhane make much of the ‘patients to be seen as little as every two years’ claim. What do the proposed amendments to NHS Dentistry in Scotland actually state in terms of the allowable schedule for treating patients?
What follows comes from the ‘Statement of Dental Remuneration:
DETERMINATION I – SCALE OF FEES’ issued to the sector by the Minister for Public Health in draft on 27 July 2023 (with my emphasis):
‘Section I – Oral Health Examination and Diagnosis
1-(a) Extensive Clinical Examination
‘BASED ON PATIENT’S KNOWN DENTAL HISTORY AND CLINICAL ASSESSMENT THE recall frequency for item 1-(a) may be 12, 18 or 24 months.’
‘1-(b) Review Examination
‘Appointment for CLINICAL REVIEW BETWEEN EXAMINATIONS BASED ON PATIENT RISK FACTORS identified in item 1-(a). This item may include, but is not limited to, reviews: it then lists eight specific conditions meriting additional reviews, including:
o of trauma following initial treatment;
o of patients with high caries rates;
o of suspicious lesions;
o of periodontal status, (i.e. gum disease status)
‘Item 1-(b) can be CLAIMED AS CLINICALLY REQUIRED but must be based on clinical risk factors.’
So, in short, ‘review examinations’ will be undertaken more frequently than 12 months IF DEEMED TO BE REQUIRED CLINICALLY!
Step by step, reading through what is actually being proposed, The Telegraph’s article and more importantly Mr Gulhane’s complicity in facilitating this form of journalism seems more and more – to put it kindly – disreputable!
See https://www.scottishdental.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Determination-I-27-July-2023-3.pdf
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This is a great thread 👇
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