SMITH SEEKS VIEWS ON DENTIST CRISIS

2.15.44pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 9th Aug 2007

Iain Smith MSP looking over some of the returned surveys

North East Fife MSP Iain Smith has launched a constituency wide survey on the state of the availability of NHS Dentists in the area.

"I receive many letters and calls from constituents who are unable to register with an NHS dentist," Mr Smith said. "This is an issue which I regularly raise with NHS Fife and thanks to the Liberal Democrats in the last government, they are now able to recruit salaried dentists who will provide access clinics in St Andrews and Cupar.

"However it is clear that more needs to be done. The new government needs to do everything it can to address this national problem.

Iain Smith said he had recently tabled a number of questions to the Scottish Health Minister asking how many people in North East Fife are waiting for an NHS dentist, but was astonished at the lack of information available.

"I have therefore launched a survey as part of my annual report to my North East Fife Constituents in order to establish the full extent of the NHS dentist shortage in North East Fife," Mr Smith said.

Iain Smith added that there had already been an excellent response to his survey from those areas where his report had already been delivered and encouraged everyone in North East Fife to complete the survey when it is delivered over the next few weeks.

ENDS